What the Syllabus tells us we need to know.. 7.1.1 State what
is meant by an environmental value system. This is a particular
world view or set of paradigms that shapes the way an individual or
group of people perceive and evaluate environmental issues. This
will be influenced by cultural (including religious), economic and
socio political context. An environmental value system is a system
in the sense that it has inputs (for example, education, cultural
influences, religious doctrine, media) and outputs (for example,
decisions, perspectives, courses of action) determined by
processing these inputs. 7.1.2 Outline the range of environmental
philosophies See figure on next page 7.1.3 Discuss how these
philosophies influence the decision making process with respect to
environmental issues covered in this course. 7.1.4 Outline key
historical influences on the development of the modern
environmental movement. Consider major landmarks, for example,
Minamata, Rachel Carsons Silent Spring, Bhopal, whaling (Save the
Whale), Chernobyl, leading to environmental pressure groups, both
local and global, the concept of stewardship and increased media
coverage raising public awareness. 7.1.5 Compare and contrast the
environmental value systems of two named societies. The societies
chosen should demonstrate significant differences, for example:
First Nation Americans and European pioneers operating frontier
economics, which involved exploitation of seemingly unlimited
resources Buddhist and Judaeo Christian societies Communist and
capitalist societies. 7.1.6 Justify your personal viewpoint on
environmental issues.
Slide 3
One way to look at the spectra of environmental ideas..
Slide 4
Environmental Value Systems (EVS) An Environmental Value System
(EVS) is a particular worldview or set of paradigms that shapes the
way an individual, or group of people, perceive and evaluate
environmental issues.
Slide 5
Inputs The EVS Inputs are : Education Cultural influences
Religious texts and doctrine The media
Slide 6
Outputs: The EVS Outputs are: Perspectives Decisions on how at
act regarding environmental issues Course of action
Slide 7
Environmental value systems Inputs Outputs Education Media
Religion Decisions Actions Attitudes Culture
Slide 8
Ecocentrism Nature-centered Minimal disturbance of natural
processes Sustainability for the whole Earth Self-imposed restraint
on resource use Somewhat the opposite of a technocentrist
Slide 9
Deep Ecologists Nature is important for the humanity of people.
Ecological (natural) laws dictate human morality. Belief in
biorights - the right of endangered species or unique landscapes to
remain undisturbed. No faith in modern large-scale technology due
to its dependence on elitist expertise, central state Materialism
is wrong. Economic growth should be geared to provide for the
poorest people.
Slide 10
Soft Ecologists Small-scale development builds better
communities. Integrate work and leisure through personal and
communal improvement. Important to participate in community
affairs. No faith in modern large-scale technology due to its
dependence on elitist expertise, central state Materialism is
wrong. Economic growth should be geared to provide for the poorest
people.
Slide 11
Slide 12
The tendency for human beings to regard themselves as the
central and most significant entities in the universe The
assessment of reality through an exclusively human perspective
Slide 13
The underlying reason why humanity dominates and sees the need
to develop most of the Earth Central problematic concept in
environmental philosophy Sense of selfishness, not taking into
consideration the impact their actions have on their surroundings
Puts humanity before everything
Slide 14
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropocentris m
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropocentris m http://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/anthropocentric http://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/anthropocentric
http://louiskennedy.files.wordpress.com/201
1/02/munching-on-the-planet.jpg
http://louiskennedy.files.wordpress.com/201
1/02/munching-on-the-planet.jpg
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Technocentrism- Cornucopain
Slide 16
Technocentrism Technocentrism: This is a personal value in
which is when a person believes that technology should affect,
control and protect the environment.
Slide 17
EcocentrismAnthropocentrism Technocentrism
nature-centeredpeople-centeredtechnology-centered Holistic world
view People as environmental managers of sustainable global
systems. Technology can keep pace with and provide solutions to
environmental problems. Minimal disturbance of natural processes
Population control given equal weight to resource use. Resource
replacement solves resource depletion. Integrates spiritual,
social, and environmental dimensions Strong regulation by
independent authorities required. Must understand natural processes
in order to control them. Sustainability for the whole Earth
Emphasizes scientific analysis before policies are put in place.
Self-reliance within a framework of global citizenship Markets and
economic growth are important. Self-imposed restraint on resource
use
Slide 18
Cornucopians Cornucopains: A cornucopian is a futurist who
believes that continued progress and provision of material items
for mankind can be met by similarly continued advances in
technology.
Slide 19
Buddhist and Judaeo-Christian Societies
Slide 20
Buddhist society Eccocentric Nature based Believes in living in
balance with nature Believes in the importance of an intrinsic bond
between man and nature Believes that ecology dictates human
morality Believes that nature has its own right Very different from
Judaeo-Christian societies, which are more human based and centered
around the rights of human beings
Slide 21
Judaeo-Christian Societies Anthropocentric Human based Believes
that God created nature for the sake and for the use of man
Believes that man is in charge of ecology and determines the rules
of ecology and how to deal with it Believes that its their
responsibility to take care of the environment Believes that man
can find a way out of any environmental difficulty (not to be
confused with technocentrism.)
Slide 22
Slide 23
Communist Vs Capitalist Ideal For Equal Distribution and No
Profit Restricted Voice For the public means that all parties are
not heard Communist tends to be for the people, thus the
environment comes in second. Free Market means that sound use of
resources Civil Liberties Means Voice Is Heard For All Parties
Capitalistic Lobbies mean that if one party with overt power,
environmental protection not as large.
Slide 24
Communism Buna Chemicals In East Germany Chernobyl Helped
protect interest of farmers, workers and fishers, who thrive of
good environmental policies.
Slide 25
Capitalism Rise of capitalism may mean rise of polluters
ensuring lobbies to protect their own needs. May exploit weaker
economic nations through their environment
Slide 26
Reminders of important events in ecological history
Slide 27
Major landmarks A new disease was discovered in Minamata City
in Japan, in 1956. It was found to be linked to the release of
methyl mercury into the waste-water produced by a chemical factory.
The mercury accumulated in shellfish and fish along the coast; the
contaminated fish and shellfish were eaten by the local population
and caused mercury poisoning.
Slide 28
American biologist Rachel Carsons influential book Silent
Spring was published in 1962. It remains one of the most
influential books of the environmental movement. The book led to
widespread concerns about the use of pesticides and the pollution
of the environment.
Slide 29
Protests about environmental disasters and concern about the
unsustainable use of the Earths resources have led to the formation
of pressure groups. Greenpeace (one of the most influential) which
made its name in 1975 by mounting an anti-whaling campaign. In the
1980s, Greenpeace made even bigger headlines with its anti-nuclear
testing campaign.
Slide 30
In 1986, reactor number four at the Chernobyl plant in Ukraine
exploded. A plume of highly radioactive dust was sent into the
atmosphere and fell over an extensive area, which became
contaminated. Caused increased incidences of cancer in the most
exposed areas. The incident raised issues concerning the safety of
Soviet nuclear power stations.