Selection 32: Our Stolen Future
The selection begins by introducing the notion of connectivity among all animals and people. Because humans, mice and reptiles are all vertebrates, we have more in common than most people realize. As well as inheritance, environment plays a role in the close relationship between the natural world and people. This connection is meaningful because negative developmental symptoms caused by environmental hormones are being discovered in wildlife and lab animals. Although there are skeptics that don’t consider animal testing to have any relevance to humans, scientists argue that hormones affect all mammals in the same way. This brings forth the idea that if the animals in the natural world are being affected by chemical hormones, so is the human population.
While doing tests with the hormone DES, scientists have found it to react like any other hormone system in the human body; the smaller the hormone dosage, the more effect it has on the body while high dosages react the opposite way. This is an alarming observation seeing that the system works against the rules of classical toxicology, and also implies that our human population may be affected so extensively that we are failing to see symptoms.
The selection continues by discussing a noteworthy meeting that occurred at the Wingspread Conference Center in 1991. Here specialists agreed that the same hormones affecting the animal populations will affect humans in the long run. A warning was issued stating that if we fail to manage these chemicals, the embryonic development of future generations will be affected.
Although it was concluded by the team of specialists that humans are currently being exposed to these chemicals, it is a hard statement to prove as there is little medical documentation. Pediatricians have noticed abnormalities in children, although it is not noteworthy enough to be considered concrete evidence. The point made at the end of the selection warns that we may face a tragedy if we fail to act now.
Selection 36: The Population Explosion: Why We Should Care and What We Should Do About It
This selection opens with an astounding statistic that since the year 1880, the world’s population has grown six times this number in only two centuries. This population explosion is first considered in terms of the negative consequences on the environment. The environmental effects can be calculated by analyzing the number of people, the per capita consumption and the damages caused by the technologies used during production. The equation justifies why the United States is regarded as the most overpopulated nation, as they use more than 195 times the energy of some developing nations. It is also noted that while poorer nations can cause environmental damage, the most destructive activities (manufacturing and powering of vehicles, lighting and heating buildings, etc.) are common in developed nations. This means that while developing nations may seem overpopulated in terms of their population size, environmental impact needs to be taken into account, therefore making many developed nations (with a lower population) overpopulated.
The selection goes on to discuss the distinction being the largest and optimal sustainable populations. It is estimated that a population size of two billion people would yield the highest quality of life for people. However, our population size today is nearly six billion people, and in terms of energy we are using 13 tW driven by fossil fuel use. Our large population is also responsible for devastating biodiversity at an extinction rate, as biologists refer to it. Although some believe the environment can sustain growth indefinitely, and that technology has the power to overcome any obstacle, this is not the case.
The Holdren scenario describes the world’s future where developing nations will increase their energy use and the industrialized nations will reduce their energy use. This idealized scenario would eliminate inequity and more importantly sustain biodiversity, which is necessary for our survival. By 2100 it is estimated the world’s energy use will total 27 tW, and by this point there can be no gross national production growth.
Conception is addressed by first noting that family size differs in societies do to cultural norms and conditions. In developing nations, high birth rates are expected as there is a high death and premature birth rates. It is eminent that health care, education, resource control and a responsible government is mandatory to see a change.
Overall strategies are the final portion of the selection, first indicating that all three factors in the environmental impact calculation must be reduced. It is essential to consume less and use environmentally friendly technology. Although population growth and overconsumption are difficult to combat, we must try for the sake of future generations.
Selection 42: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed
This article’s main point of living sustainably is initially delivered by warning that our society’s accomplishments could fail like many past successful societies if we continue to deplete our resources. Diamond emphasizes the importance of environmental resources beginning with a list of eight ways in which early societies damaged their environment, which may have supported in their collapse. Today, our society inflicts damage on our environment in these eight ways as well as four new ways in which technology plays a role. This alarming notion foreshadows a future where our society will be forced to live a lower standard life with more threats.
It is noted that while it is imperative to learn from the mistakes made from past societies, we now live in a world of technology, globalization, modern medicine and knowledge of the past and distant modern societies. As well as these changes, our society is aware of the many ways in which we impose harm on our environment. For this reason, we have no right to repeat history for the lack of our concern.
A large portion of this selection explains Diamond’s “five-point framework of possible contributing factors to any putative environmental collapse”. The first factor deals with environmental damage, which includes the damages caused by humans and the type of environment being affected. This factor implies that humans must interact with the environment in a sustainable way, so that the same resources will be available and in the same quality for future generations. Climate change is the second factor discussed. An interesting fact of population increase during a time of good climate is addressed and how this can prove fatal if there is a lack of environmental resources available. A third factor for environmental collapse includes hostile neighbors, as a society can become vulnerable during an environmental devastation. Fourthly, decreased support by friendly neighbors is explained. Today, this is a considerable factor as we depend on both imports and exports to sustain our society. A society’s response to their environmental problems is the fifth factor. As stated before, our society is aware of the irresponsible actions inflicted on the environment and we must change now before it’s too late.
Concluding the article, Diamond makes the distinction between people who are environmentalists and those who don’t feel a need to respond to our current environmental needs. Through his work and research he has learned that these two groups (the environmentalists and big corporations) must come together in order to solve any of the current problems facing our environment.
Activity: John Francis walks the Earth
This video is of John Francis making an inspirational speech about his life-long journey travelling, teaching, working, and learning the most valuable piece of knowledge that how we treat each other is how we treat the environment.
In 1991, Francis witnessed two oil tankers collide and spill half a million gallons of oil into a waterway. From this point, he refused to use motor vehicles for transportation, and began his new way of life by walking everywhere. At twenty-seven years old, he came to a realization that as he conversed with people, he was failing to hear what they had to say and was only concerned in making his knowledge heard. From then on, he gave up talking and began listening more intently to what others had to say. While teaching, this technique proved to be successful as his students were engaged and he himself took away more knowledge than expected.
Francis travelled from university to university around the United States, obtaining first a Bachelor degree, a Masters degree, a PhD and a position as a professor. He began writing on oil spills which was revolutionary for his time, and eventually became a coast guard, a UN goodwill ambassador and had the opportunity to write oil regulations for the United States.
While travelling in Venezuela, it occurred to Francis that he had made himself a prisoner. He was trapped in a secure and stable life, but needed to become someone else in order to help more people than just himself. After seventeen years, he made the decision to begin speaking and let his experiences be heard by many. His speeches are meant to inspire people to force themselves into a new situation, become an activist now, and always listen to what others have to say. His story is compelling as he is now sharing the knowledge he spent his lifetime acquiring, and truly encourages us all to be the change we wish to see in the world.
Reflection question: media
When digesting what the media is proposing, it is particularly important to critic how accurate it is. We must form our own opinions on topics the media presents, so we don’t buy into whatever the source wants us to believe. Over the past couple of weeks I have been researching the current issue of the tar sands in Alberta. The environmental degradation that occurs every day is indisputable, yet I found an article that attempts to invoke a different opinion in readers. This article from the Winnipeg Free Press looks at the amount of oil being extracted daily from the Jackpine mine and what Shell Oil Co. is doing to make the project as green as possible.
Clarity: I find when I’m reading an article, watching a news report or viewing any other form of media, I am left with many questions and feel it isn’t completely free from obscurity. This particular article is relatively clear as it provides many statistics on only two topics, making it easy to follow and understand the concepts the author is depicting. When discussing how Shell is going to offset their carbon dioxide production, one simple strategy of underground carbon capture and storage is mentioned. Although it isn’t detailed, there is clarity.
Accuracy: Looking at how accurate a media piece is can be hard to grasp. Without having prior knowledge on a topic, knowing what is true can be difficult to confirm. Pictures in the media should be critiqued for their accuracy, as they can be taken from a certain angle or of something that compels people to conform to their intended message. This article didn’t contain any images, although a picture of happy workers on the jobsite rather than the filthy tailings ponds could be convincing in evoking the positive emotion being conveyed. The article is accurate in the areas it is discussing. Although I don’t agree with the notion that Shell is doing everything they can to commit to a greener future for their oil industry, the statistics and processes referred to are legitimate.
Precision: The more I analyze media coverage, the more I realize there is rarely a great level of detail in the message being conveyed. Often with top news stories, the few points to be known at the time are relayed but with little background knowledge or insight into the story. Looking at this article, the level of detail is at an absolute minimum. The amount of oil produced and the carbon offsetting processes are mentioned without explanation. “Shell expects the production to rise more than 10 per cent by 2012 from 2009 levels” (“The Winnipeg Free Press,” 2010) is a statement made with no further rationalization. This approach can be useful for a short article, but I find it doesn’t convince me, especially when doing research into a topic.
Relevance: I find that the media doesn’t tend to stick to one central point within a story. Often trying to capture the perspectives of more than one person/ group, the relevance can often be blurred. As well, it is common for too many ideas to be explained under the same topic, and it is easy to lose track of the main point. The article I chose is from one perspective, and therefore remains focused on the growth rate of the Jackpine mine and what Shell is doing to keep it a sustainable project. Because the article is quite short in length, there were few details and so it didn’t stray from the main points.
Breadth: Often the breadth of a media piece is limited, as the story is from a single source. It is important to look beyond what one article discusses, as there is always a broader picture. My article comes from one view point being Shell, therefore having one perspective and source of evidence which keeps it relevant but should make readers skeptical of how accurate it is. As the quote, “Shell is committed to developing this resource responsibly and to pursuing opportunities to reduce the impacts of our oil sands operations” (“The Winnipeg Free Press,” 2010) comes from the director and president of the company, it is obvious the company’s positive aspects are communicated rather than the destructive reality of oil sand extraction. As we talked about in class, this is an example of “green washing” as the company focuses only on their positive attributions towards the environment.
Depth: I find a media piece has been successful when it leaves me wishing to pursue more information on the topic and thinking about it long afterwards. This particular article didn’t evoke much emotion when I read it as I am familiar with the topic, although it did leave a mental picture in my head of the sheer volume of oil being extracted. Because it didn’t go into depth about the extraction or carbon offsetting processes, I wasn’t given enough information to have any further questions. The statistics were eye-opening but it wasn’t successful in keeping me captivated.
Logic: I believe it is human nature to trust the media and accept the statements portrayed to be true. However, we must use our own judgment to decipher the truth especially with recent news where the audience is completely uninformed. The statistics regarding the growth of the oil sands production is accurate and I feel is quite recognizable by the general public as being true. The ways in which Shell is dealing with carbon offsetting is not a well-known process and therefore should have been further explained. I don’t feel that “Shell is continuing to advance its proposed carbon capture storage project” (“The Winnipeg Free Press,” 2010) is convincing by the iffy wording, compelling the reader to regard the statement as being untrue.
The Associated Press. (2010, September 15). Shell says Alberta oil sands project producing 100,000 barrels per day. Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved from http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/breakingnews/shell-says-alberta-oil-sands-project-producing-100000-barrels-per-day-102938134.html
Reflection Question: Is there a danger to a growing disconnect from nature?
It is astonishing to think that 90% of our society’s time is spent indoors. However, with every luxury and comfort due to advancing technology in our homes, it’s no wonder why we don’t feel the need to venture outdoors. Nevertheless, there is a danger to a growing disconnect from nature for many personal and societal reasons.
I find nothing more relaxing and stress relieving than taking a walk through a park with my puppy. I think it’s of the highest importance to appreciate nature and value even the non-living things (rocks, sticks, etc.) on this earth. We should all realize everything, no matter how big (pack of wolves) or small (moss on a tree) has an importance and role in an ecosystem and therefore in our own lives. We must view the earth as something we are a component of, rather than just a place we are residing. Spending time in the great outdoors not only provides contentment but also a learning experience. There is an indefinite supply of knowledge within the natural world if we take the time to look, from the species of fish living in a river to the key predators within an ecosystem. All in all, having consideration for the environment makes us better people, which we should all strive to be.
Having compassion for nature is valuable in understanding and taking action against environmental problems. In today’s society, many people don’t have enough incentive to buy environmentally friendly products, recycle, or use better modes of transportation. Without government regulations such as “pay as you throw” garbage removal operations for example, many people lack the responsibility and morality to do what’s best for the environment. This mentality can be related back to disengaging from nature as people don’t see the harm in hurting something they don’t care or have an interest in. Being in touch with nature motivates people to keep the earth as we wish to see it in the future, and that means taking environmental action today.
The growing detachment from nature could prove to be disheartening for future generations if we continue on this path. It is crucial for children to adopt a love for the outdoors and for parents to instill a concern for green choices and habits throughout their lives. Often working as a ripple effect, one person’s dedication toward a greener future can inspire many to act in the same way. We must never overlook the most precious system present on earth, or we may eventually lose it completely.
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