Tracey Fingas
6853883
Envr2000 Sept 25 2009
Summary of Selection 42 How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed
Jared Diamond
Jared Diamond’s How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed invokes the notion that mankind has the ability to decide it owns fate. Diamond makes reference to some of the great societal collapses known to Earth such as the Maya in Central America or Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean which helps to bring the problems of present day Earth into greater perspective (213). There is reference to the fact that environmental damage is not the main factor for the downfall of the societies but Diamond also strongly pushes the idea that sustainability is necessary. Essentially the idea of practicing sustainability to preserve the health and well being of Earth not only for the present but also for the future is the main argument.
Diamond, Jared. How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. Ed. Thomas Easton. New York:McGraw Hill Higher Education, 2009.
Summary of Selection 32 Our Stolen Future
Theo Colborn, Dianne Dumanoski & John Peterson Myers
Theo Colborn, Dianne Dumanoski, and John Peterson Myers work together in Our Stolen Future to shed light on the idea that the animal population is showing a negative glimpse into the future human population. The essay begins with Rachel Carson’s influential quote “our fate is connected with the animals” which sets the tone for the entire piece (162). Throughout Our Stolen Future animal research accurately shows problems that can be traced to the human population later on. Most notably the example referring to DES or diethylstilbestrol proves the importance of looking at and examining animal studies as a useful predictor for humans (Colborn, Dumanoski, Myers 163). The title of the piece is significant and implies that if we don’t begin to listen to the animal perspectives that our future will be in fact stolen from upon us.
Colburn, Theo. Dianne Dumanoski, and John Peterson Myers. Our Stolen Future. Ed. Thomas Easton. New York: McGraw Hill Higher Education, 2009.
Summary of Selection 36 The Population Explosion:
Why We Should Care and What We Should Do
Paul R. Ehrlich & Anne H. Ehrlich
The Population Explosion: Why We Should Care and What We Should Do outlines what is necessary for Earth to be sustainable especially in terms of population numbers. Most shocking is the notion that Paul R. Ehrlich and Anne H. Ehrlich write that the ideal population of Earth is around two billion people which is extremely far from the already 6 million plus inhabitants on Earth currently (185). Throughout the written piece the Ehrlich’s write about the devastating impacts of a large population on Earth such as the eventual loss and extinction of plants and animals and the environmental degradation of Earth (185). Solutions to help maintain and eventually decrease the population of Earth are also mentioned with the regulation of birth rates being an important factor. In conclusion the Ehrlich’s strive to educate on not only population size but the need to reduce consumption and practice sustainable measures.
Ehrlich, Paul R, and Anne H. Ehrlich. The Population Explosion: Why We Should Care and What We Should Do. Ed. THomas Easton, New York:McGraw Hill Higher Education, 2009.
David Suzuki’s The Sacred Balance (excerpts on YouTube)
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/NatureChallenge/at_Work/sacredbalance.asp
The Sacred Balance by David Suzuki is a documentary about the role humans play on the planet Earth. A single quote found in the The Sacred Balance which states "every deliberate act entails responsibility" stood out throughout the series. This quote should be taken and thought of as a mantra for life. It helps represent the idea that we are all responsible for our actions. Mankind need to step up as a whole and take responsibility for their actions that have caused Earth so much hardship already in hopes that it is not too late to reverse the damages already done. Additionally Suzuki discusses how humans thought it was their "right to exploit nature" previously which is a startling but true analysis of not only the past generation but sadly of the current generation. The film techniques used throughout that part were especially chilling with the dramatic music combined with the devastating film of Earth showing clear cutting and the destruction of forests. All of the video left visual images in the mind of the viewer. Furthermore Suzuki later notes that the "atmosphere connects the human world with every part of nature" which was an interesting take on proving how everything in life is interconnected which relays the idea that what we do to the planet, affects the entire planet. All in all The Sacred Balance questions and makes the viewer evaluate the role of humans in the world.
Thinking Critically has been an ongoing theme in Environment Science 2000. From the first day the students have been asked to think outside the box and examine the world critically. I think David Suzuki's The Scared Balance needs to be looked at critically and examined using the 7 criteria of reasoning. Suzuki fails to see the good in the Earth especially in terms of experimental science. He openly critiques the idea that 200 years ago, modern experimental science changed the world and that problems began to occur soon after. Modern experimental science certainly has had its negative aspects on the world but has also had positive influences on the earth and its human population. In conclusion, the Sacred Balance helped to tie into Environment Science 2000 by making the viewer think critically.
