SUBTOPIC 1 1 ENVIRONMENTAL VALUE SYSTEMS SUBTOPIC 1

SUB-TOPIC 1. 1 ENVIRONMENTAL VALUE SYSTEMS SUB-TOPIC 1. 2 SYSTEMS AND MODELS

1. 1 Significant Ideas – Historical events, among other influences, affect the development of environmental value systems (EVSs) and environmental movements. There is a wide spectrum of EVSs, each with its own premises and implications

Environmental value systems An environmental value system is a particular worldview or set of paradigms that shapes the way an individual, or group of people, perceive and evaluate environmental issues.

WHAT ARE THE HISTORIC INFLUENCES? Literature The Media Major Environmental disasters International agreements Technological developments

SAND COUNTY ALMANAC - 1949 Book by Aldo Leopold USA described relationship between people and the landmark in conservation movement inspired people to protect the natural resources for their own sake (not just economic benefits)

MINIMATA - 1956 Japan Disease caused by mercury poisoning from factory polluting the bay Bioaccumulation & biomagnification Demonstrated link between human health and pollution

SILENT SPRING - 1962 Book by Rachel Carson USA showed link between pesticide use and ecosystem health raised awareness of Americans beginning of the end: DDT

LOVE CANAL 1976 -1978 Niagara Falls, NY School built on former toxic waste dump Dangers denied for a long time Only came clear after grass-roots activism

3 -MILE ISLAND 1979 Pennsylvania, USA Near meltdown of nuclear power plant Decrease in belief of safety of nuclear energy industry Lead to heavy regulation of nuclear industry

BHOPAL 1984 Union Carbide plant in India Gas leak at night killed 1, 000’s of people Union Carbide escaped criminal penalties brought about realization that ‘ugly’ side of industrialization happens in impoverished areas

CHERNOBYL 1986 Ukraine (USSR then) worst nuclear disaster complete meltdown released radioactive waste over Europe Resettlement of 300, 000 demonstrated that environmental issues are not national issues

SAVE THE WHALES 1986 Green Peace Campaign global, but Japan, Iceland, & Norway are flash points commercial whaling ban to reduce the number killed annually showed international cooperation can achieve something still has weaknesses - voluntary

SYSTEMS AND MODELS 1. 2 Sub-topic 1. 2 – Systems and models Significant Ideas – • A systems approach can help in the study of complex environmental issues. • The use of systems and models simplifies interactions but may provide a more holistic view without reducing issues to single processes. Sub Topic 1. 2 - Applications and skills 1. Construct a system diagram or model from a given set of information 1. Evaluate the use of models as a tool in a given situation, for example, climate change predictions. Pre Post 1 2 3 4

SYSTEMS AND MODELS 1. 2

SYSTEMS APPROACH: A way of visualizing a complex set of interactions which may be ecological or societal Many different scales (microscopic to planetary) Interactions produce the properties of the system An assemblage of parts, working together, forming a functioning whole

ALL SYSTEMS HAVE… All systems have… Represented by… STORAGES: stores of matter or energy A box FLOWS: into, through, and out of the Arrows system INPUTS Arrows in OUTPUTS Arrows out BOUNDARIES Lines PROCESSES: which transfer or Equations or descriptions: ex. Respiration, diffusion transform energy or matter from storage to storage

EVS AS A SYSTEM

Historical moments in the environmental movement (inputs) 1956 • Minimata disaster – bioaccumulation of mercury in seafood 1962 • Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring documenting the effects of pesticides 1970 s • Greenpeace campaigns - save the whale - anti-nuclear testing 1985 • Bhopal disaster killing up to 25, 000 1986 • Chernobyl disaster causing resettlement of over 300, 000

DECISIONS, RESPONSES, COURSE OF ACTION? (OUTPUTS) These are dependent upon the EVS We know a wide variety exists Spectrum…. Where do you fall? Montana? USA?

EVS of various societies First Nation Americans vs European pioneers Bu J s u v es da dd t is ieti eo his n u oc -C t v s o m hri s s c m t i e tie stia Co talis s n i p Ca

1. First nation Americans vs European pioneers Environment communal Subsistence economy based on barter Low-impact technology Animistic religion – animals, plants, rocks etc all have soul Exploitation of seemingly unlimited resources Environmental degradation through over-population Disconnected with environment Heavy industry and advanced technology

2. Communist vs Capitalist socieites Equal distribution of resources with no profit led to squandering of resources destroying the environment Government protected farmers unintentionally benefiting parts of the environment Seen as more environmentally friendly as resources are used efficiently to maximize profit Unions protected industry damaging the environment Civil liberties and democracy used in protecting the environment

3. Buddhist vs Judaeo-Christian societies Separation of body and soul, matter and spirit Genesis – domination or stewardship or the Earth? Ecofeminism – nurture rather than conquer World is all co-dependent Birth, ageing, suffering, death all conjoined Humans not autonomous or more important than the Earth

CONSIDER IMPACT ON SPECIFIC ISSUE How did/do these societies perceive and deal with: Air pollution from cars Water pollution from factories Deforestation Nuclear power

MLA WORK CITED Fountain, Henry. "Chernobyl: Capping a Catastrophe. " The New York Times, 27 Apr. 2014. Web. 7 Sept. 2015. Chang, Louis W. and Guo, Grace L. Minamata Disease: Congenital Methylmercury Poisoning Elsevier "Minamata Disease. " » Sustainability » Boston University. Boston Univeristy, 2010. Web. 7 Sept. 2015.