ENVS 112: International Environmental Studies Syllabus 1

ENVS 112 International Environmental Problems Syllabus 8-26-2008

Environmental Studies Department Environmental Science 112 (Section 01), GE D2 International Environmental Problems MW 3:00-4:14 pm, Amador 151 Spring 2009 Instructor Dr. Michelle Stevens Office 555B Amador Hall Office Hours W 1:30-3:00, Th 1:30-3:00 Email [email protected] (Assignments not accepted via email) Office Telephone: 278-2914 Cell Phone 765-7397 (really important only) Environmental Studies 278-6620

Required Texts 1) Global Environmental Governance. 2006. James Gustave Speth and Peter M. Haas. Island Press. 2) Peace Parks: Conservation and Conflict Resolution. 2007. Ed. Saleem H. Ali. M.I.T. Press 3) Articles provided on Web CT

Catalog Description

Global perspective on current problems of environmental protection and resource use. Population growth, food production, industrialization, technology and cultural change are considered, with heavy emphasis on the social dynamics of environmental problems. A variety of political views is studied, and an attempt is made to develop a perspective useful to students in personal and political decisions. Prerequisite: Passing score on the WPE. Graded: Graded Student. Units: 3.0.

Specific Course Description

In this specific class, we will focus on the positive aspects of international studies by evaluating and problem-solving sustainable cultural and ecological land practices. This course is a Writing Intensive course, with a minimal writing requirement of 5,000 words for papers required for the course. Students will learn about international conservation conventions, biosphere reserves, peace parks, indigenous and local knowledge, agro-ecology, and sustainable development. Students will learn to analyze the stressors on functioning, sustainable ecosystems including habitat fragmentation, invasive species, deforestation, desertification, pollution, urbanization, industrialization, sociopolitical systems, and globalization. We will analyze develop integrated and holistic solutions to specific environmental and socio-economic problems in a country/ locality of your choice. The Mesopotamian Marshes of Iraq will be used as a case study. Loss of ecosystem integrity, biodiversity, and culture impoverishes each of us on the globe.

Student Learning Objectives

 To better understand international environmental problems as a set of social issues

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 To better understand how these international environmental problems pose domestic issues that confront and divide America today. (GE criteria D2/A)  Because we are involved in a global economy, a global culture, and a global political system, thousands of acts we all perform have environmental ramifications around the world. Our third objective is to better understand the consequences of our acts for the global environment. (GE criteria D2/B)  To better understand how corporations, governments, cultural groups, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations inter-relate with respect to international environmental problems. This includes a consideration of the diversity of human society as an aspect of understanding and dealing with international environmental problems. (GE criteria D2/B)  To better understand poverty, population, resource scarcity, ethnicity, gender, and socio- economic status as facts involved in international environmental problems. This includes the contribution of men and women and people of various ethnicities and socio-economic groups make in dealing with international environmental problems. (GE criteria D2/D,F)  To define and understand various perspectives on how to interpret and act upon these issues. (GE criteria D2/C,G,H)  To sharpen analytical skills (GE criteria D2/F)  To improve reading and writing skills (GE criteria D2/I)  To improve skills of speaking and persuasion.

Class Participation Students are encouraged to participate in class discussions and ask questions. However, private conversations in class are disruptive, and prevent other students from hearing and learning from the material presented. Disruptive talking in class will result in the students being asked to leave the room for that day or in being reassigned to a different seat in the classroom.

Important Dates Jan 26 Class Begins March 30-April 5 Spring Recess May 14 Last Day of Classes Wed May 20 3-5pm Final

General Expectations  NO CHEATING. Any instance of cheating on exams, essays, or papers will result in an automatic F for the assignment or course, depending on the nature of the cheating. The incident may be reported to the Campus Judicial Officer.  Demonstrated proficiency in the use of the English language is expected for writing assignments. Grammatical errors and writing that do not clearly express ideas will affect your grade.  Ability to participate in oral presentations, public debate and commentary during class periods.

Cell Phones, Computers, Etc. I require that all electronic equipment be turned off during class and put away (no text messaging during class). Computers can only be used for taking notes on class materials. I will check, and will require computers to be turned off if used for non-class material.

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Disability Information If you have a disability and require accommodations, you need to provide disability documentation to SSWD, Lassen Hall 1008, (916) 278-6955. Please discuss your accommodation needs with me after class or during my office hours early in the semester.

Late & Absent Policy Regular attendance is expected for all students enrolled in the course. Students who arrive late or leave early will be counted tardy and three tardies will equal an absence. Absences and tardies affect your class participation grade, which is 10% of your grade. Every student is responsible for all material covered in class when absent.

Late Work I will not accept late assignments or emailed assignments. All assignments will be collected at the beginning of class on the day they are due. Assignments can be turned in to my office in Amador 555B or mailbox in Amador 554B.

Course Requirements The course is designed to provide a basic operating framework for discussing key environmental issues, specifically the distribution, utilization and sustainability of water in the Western U.S. and Mexico. This material is a set of lectures, movies, presentations, one field trip, papers, and two exams.

1) CLASS PARTICIPATION – Ten percent of your final grade will be based on evaluation of your participation in class. Class attendance, including being on time, is heavily weighted in this grade. Questions, comments, critiques of readings and participation in discussions are encouraged. 2) STUDENT PRESENTATIONS ON READINGS (Required texts by Speth and Ali). Students will lead one class discussion, preparing a presentation on assigned chapters. Group presentations are preferred; however, if a student wants to present along they can. There are seventeen opportunities for class presentations. Students can make their own suggestion for their presentation if they wish. No more than 3 students per presentation. 3) STUDENT PEER EVALUATIONS – Students will prepare short peer evaluations of other student’s presentations to be turned in after each presentation. 4) CHAPTER REVIEW PAPERS – Students will turn in a one page paper evaluating and integrating required readings at the end of each class period that the assignment is due. 5) MOCK UNITED NATIONS – Climate Change – Students will conduct a model United Nations session based on a country of their choice. We will evaluate the Kyoto Protocol through the semester, and use this protocol as our basis for the United Nations Exercies. 6) Development of International Forestry Protocol - 7) CLASS PAPER One essay of at least 4000 words. Students will also prepare a presentation on their final paper. The paper will include analyzing and proposing planning/ conservation/ management measures for a specific International Biosphere Reserves, Peace Parks, transboundary area, or Wetland of International Significance somewhere in the world. We will analyze conservation of the ecosystem within the context of globalization, local cultures, sociopolitical structures, industrialization, pollution/ energy concerns within the country. Knowledge gained from the course will be integrated in the final paper through evaluating a specific site in the world and making recommendations for its long term conservation. I will help you define issues and ideas for your papers. 8) FINAL CLASS PRESENTATION – Students will complete a class presentation on their final paper. 3 ENVS 112 International Environmental Problems Syllabus 8-26-2008

9) TAKE HOME FINAL ESSAY – Final essay handed out, due beginning of finals period.

Other Information The combination of writing assignments for this class meets the criteria for the GE Upper Division Writing Requirement.

Class grading will be based on points in the following distribution (Percent): Class participation 10 A 92-100 In Class Writing Assignments (reading) 10 A- 90-92 Leading Class Discussion 1 10 B+ 88.5-90 Mock United Nations – Climate Change 5 B 82-88.5 UNEP International Forest Convention 5 B- 80-82 Take Home Midterm Essay 5 C+ 78.5-80 Biodiversity Essay 10 C 72-78.5 Final Essay (>4,000 words) 250 C- 70-72 Final Project Presentation 10 D+ 68.5-70 Take Home Midterm 5 D 62-68.5 Take Home Final Essay 5 D- 60-62 Extra Credit Available – Earth Day to May Day F <60

CLASS SCHEDULE

THE DETAILS OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE CHANGED DURING THE COURSE OF THE SEMESTER; ANY CHANGES WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN CLASS

DATE TOPIC ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES

Jan 26 Introduction Newspaper Article: Battery Short Writing Lead in the Dirt Poisons, Assignment Kills Speth Ch 2 – Toxic Pollutants Jan 28 Guest Lecturer – Jenice Martin – Columbia trip Feb 2 Climate Change Dr. Stevens lecture Short Essay Due

Feb 4 Movie – Climate Change Feb 9 Speth Ch 1 – Toward Stevens – Climate Change Stevens Lecture Planetary Stewardship and Air Pollution

Feb 11 Speth Ch 2 – Global-  Air Pollution, Acid Student led discussions Scale Env Challenges Rain  Health of Forests  Land Degredation 4 ENVS 112 International Environmental Problems Syllabus 8-26-2008

and Desertification Feb 16 Speth Ch 2 – Global-  Water and Scale Env Challenges Wetlands  Oceans and Marine Fisheries Feb 18 Speth Ch 2 – Global- Biodiversity Additional Reading Scale Env Challenges TBA

Feb 23 Speth Ch 2 – Global- Guest Speaker: Dr. Don Additional Reading: Scale Env Challenges Lotter Agriculture International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge and Technology Feb 25 Speth Ch 2 Student Led Discussions Speth Ch 3 – First Ch 2 – Connections Attempt at Global Ch 2 - Underlying Drivers Environmental Ch 3 Governance Ch 4 Speth Ch 4 – Environmental Treaties and International Environmental Law March 2 Speth Ch 5 and 6– Student Led Discussions Take Home Midterm UN, International Ch 5 Essay Handed Out Organizations, and Ch 6 Civil Society. Paths to the Future March 4 Stevens Lecture – Peace Parks Ch 16 Dr. Stevens Lecture Mesopotamian Marshes March 9 Finish Speth Student Presentations/ Take Home Midterm Peace Parks Ch 10 – Discussions Essay Due US-Canada Peace Parks Ch 11- US-Mexico March 11 Ch 5 – Peace Parks S Student Presentations/ Africa Discussions Ch 6 – Peace Parks in Selous-Niassa Ch 7 – Peace Parks in West Africa March 16 Model United Nations Kyoto Protocol Mock UN Exercise March 18 Model United Nations Kyoto Protocol Mock UN Exercise March 23 Ch 13 –Korea Student Presentations/ Take Home Essay Due Ch 14- Japan Discussions 5 ENVS 112 International Environmental Problems Syllabus 8-26-2008

Ch 15 - Kashmir March 25 Indigenous CBD Article 8j Reading TBA Knowledge Convention on Biological Diversity Article 8j March 30-April 3 Spring Break No Class April 6 Guest Speaker – Emily Biodiversity and Indigenous  Biodiversity Kachorek - Guyana Knowledge Essay Assigned  Reading TBA April 8 Movie Biodiversity Discussion April 13 Niall McCarten Africa and Conservation Biodiversity Essay Due Final Paper Assigned April 15 Movie Discussion April 20 Final Student Presentations (3 per day) April 22 Dr. Angus Wright - Forests of the World Tentative April 27 Final Student Presentations (3 per day) April 29 Final Student  Final Paper Presentations (3 per Due day)  Final Essay Assigned May 4 Final Student Presentations (3 per day) May 6 Final Student Presentations (3 per day) May 11 International Forest International Forest Final Essay Due Protocol Protocol Class Activity May 13 Final Student Presentations (3 per day) 112 FINAL Wed May 20 Potluck  Student Final 3-5 pm Presentations 6 per day or some  Take Home posters Final Essay Due