Introduction to Environmental Studies
Course Description: This course introduces environmental issues from a range of disciplines and perspectives. We begin in Module I with an overview of a number of classic works in the field, tracing the history of modern environmentalism to its Darwinian and Malthusian roots. Module II provides an empirical underpinning for ecosystem and natural resource management. Module III applies these empirical tools to international issues, with an emphasis on international environmental law and policy. Module IV applies the theoretical, scientific, and policy expertise gained in Modules I-III to the various crises of global food policy in the 21st century. Module V closes with an overview of the various different world-views and ideologies that arguably fall under the ‘environmentalist’ umbrella.
Course Expectations and Policies: Please refer to the syllabus, at Introduction to Environmental Studies syllabus, fall 2009, Ike Sharpless.pdf
Using this Page: We will primarily use this page to compile and examine current events assignments. Assignments are due by 5 PM the Thursday night before class and should pertain to the regions or topics discussed since the last assignment. Feel free to use the list of links I have provided in the syllabus (and which are available here for your convenience), or to find your piece elsewhere. The articles you find should generally be short enough for people to have a chance to browse them Thursday night and before class on Friday, but long enough that we can learn from them. A full-page Economist article is a good length. In order to receive credit for each assignment, you need to do one of the following two things: 1) write a short paragraph in the comments section of this page explaining why this article or piece caught your attention, and how you think it relates to our studies, or 2) write a short paragraph (or more, if you want) in the comments section of another student's post. You are of course free to do both; this forum is meant to be interactive, and you should feel free to comment however and wherever you want on the pbworks page.
Useful Web Links: click here for the list of web links that is available in your syllabus. I may add to this list as the semester progresses, whereas the list on the syllabus will remain as it is. Feel free to add any other links that you feel may be of use to your fellow students in the comments section.
Course Documents are available here.
Class Notes:
Fri., Sept. 4: sept 4 discussion notes, intro to environmental studies.pdf
Wed., Sept. 9: Sept 9, Environment class discussion notes, Hardin and White.pdf
Fri., Sept. 11: Sept 11 class notes, environment, Meadows and Stockhold Declaration.pdf
Mon., Sept. 14: Mon Sept 14, Environment, Class Notes on Brundtland, Shiva.pdf
Mon., Sept. 21: Mon Sept 21, Environment Class Notes, Environment textbook chs 1 and 2.pdf
Wed., Sept. 24: Wed Sept 23, Environment Class Notes, Ecosystems day 1.pdf
Mon., Sept. 28: Notes for Sept 28, Environment ch 8 and 9.pdf
Wed., Sept. 30: Sept 30 class notes, Environment, Focus on Energy.pdf
Mon., Oct. 5: Oct 5, Environment class notes, focus on resources.pdf
Fri., Oct. 9: Fri Oct 9, Environment class notes, biodiversity and 'the animal issue'.pdf
Mon. Oct. 19: Oct 19 Environment class notes, Global Environmental Politics ch 1.pdf
Mon., Oct. 26: Oct 26 environment class notes, Chasek et al ch 3, 97-143.pdf
Wed., Oct. 28: Oct 28 environment class notes, GEP ch 3 case studies 6-10.pdf
HW for guest lecture by Joel Tickner: (Associate Professor, UML Department of Community Health and Sustainability -- Project Director, Lowell Center for Sustainable Productio)
Watch this video: http://ej4all.org/contaminatedwithoutconsent/home.php
Browse the following websites:
Videos:
Links for Ecolabeling and TEDs
Videos for Ecolabeling
Links on International Environmental Issues:
Transboundary Air Pollution
Ozone Depletion
Climate Change
International Toxic Waste Trade
- Basel Action network on responsible e-waste recycling: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtT2EZ_d3Xk, Quote from the movie: "The trade in toxic wastes leaves the poor of the world with the untenable choice between poverty and poison, a choice that nobody should have to make."
Toxic Chemicals
Whaling
The International Trade in Endangered Species
Biodiversity Loss
Fisheries Depletion
Forests
Corporate Social Responsibility
"Dissenting" Videos on the Endangered Species Act
Good sources for environment videos
Other good links
Image banks for reference
Links:
-NYT obitiuary on Norman Borlaug, "the father of the Green Revolution": http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/14/business/energy-environment/14borlaug.html?_r=1&em
-nteresting Financial Times op-ed on quantitative vs. qualitative goods: "Do not discount what you cannot measure", John Kay, available at http://tinyurl.com/lbzhvt
Focus on Agriculture
Monday: Recent Popular Articles. We will be having an open discussion in class about the discussion of the national and global food system as it is portrayed in the print media. For Monday's class, please read one of the first two pieces and one of the next group of three. If you have already read any of these pieces, please pick something else. Come to class prepared to debate the pros and cons of of these competing articles.
Read at least one of the following two pieces
And at least one of the following three
For Monday (11/23): Spotlight on Animal Agriculture
For Mon (11/30): Climate Change, GM Foods, and Feeding the World (all of these are short, so be sure to read each of them! Only the last two are more than a page long...)
Videos on Inhumane Practices in Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)
Links on Food and Agriculture
Videos on Food and Agriculture
Videos and links on 'environmentalisms'
Videos and links for next week's focus on climate change
Other links and videos
Videos for Monday
Relevant Assignment Dates:
Papers, Quizzes, Test
Current Events Assignments
http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/548/
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