ESS Topic 7.1 - What Are Environmental Value Systems?

ESS Topic 7.1 - What are environmental value systems?

7.1.1: State what is meant by an environmental value system.

• How a person sees or values environmental issues. • EVS influenced by: ◦ culture, including religion ◦ economics ◦ socio-politics • Environmental Value Systems are systems with inputs and outputs ◦ inputs = education, religious doctrine, media ◦ outputs = perspectives, beliefs, decisions, actions • Ecosystems can cross borders leading to conflict ◦ ex: whaling, wildlife protection/hunting areas Most people's personal environmental value system falls within one of the categories described in the table below, adapted from Figure 10.1: The evolution of environmentalist objectives and strategies in the seventies, p. 372. First published in O'Riordan, T. 1981. Environmentalism. London, UK. Pion Limited. Also see Figure 6 in the ESS Student Handbook.

Ecocentrism Anthropocentrism Technocentrism

nature-centered people-centered technology-centered

• Holistic world view • People as environmental • Technology can keep pace managers of with and sustainable global systems. provide solutions to environmental problems.

• Minimal disturbance of • Population • Resource replacement natural processes control given equal weight to solves resource depletion. resource use.

• Integrates spiritual, social, • Strong regulation by • Must understand natural and environmental independent authorities processes in order to dimensions required. control them.

• Sustainability for the • Emphasizes scientific whole Earth analysis before policies are put in place.

• Self-reliance within a • Markets and economic framework of global growth are important. citizenship

• Self-imposed restraint on resource use • Deep Ecologists = Ecocentrists

Brad Kremer 2010 - 2011 [email protected] ESS Topic 7.1 - What are environmental value systems?

◦ 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 unmolested. ◦ No faith in modern large-scale technology due to its dependence on elitist expertise, central state authority and inherently anti-democratic institutions. ◦ Materialism is wrong. Economic growth should be geared to provide for the poorest people. • Self-reliance Soft Ecologists = between Ecocentrists and Anthropocentrists ◦ 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 authority and inherently anti-democratic institutions. ◦ Materialism is wrong. Economic growth should be geared to provide for the poorest people. • Environmental Managers = between Anthropocentrists and Technocentrists ◦ Economic growth and resource use can continue as long as... ■ appropriate taxes and fees are adjusted ■ legal rights to minimum environmental quality ■ compensation for people negatively affected by actions ◦ Economic and resource use decisions based on consensus among parties involved. • Cornucopians = technocentrists ◦ Believe people will always find a way out of difficulties (political, economic, environmental, etc.) ◦ Economic growth defines the value of a project. ◦ Optimistic about humans' ability to improve the lives of others. ◦ Scientific and technological expertise will guide economic growth, public health and safety. ◦ Suspicious of consensus-building approach to decision-making. ◦ All obstacles can be overcome with sufficient will, ingenuity, and resources generated by economic growth. 7.1.2: Outline the range of environmental philosophies in reference to Figure 6 (ESS Handbook p.42).

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.

How did the following landmarks lead to the development of local and global environmental pressure groups, the concept of stewardship, and raising public awareness via increased media coverage?

• Minimata, Japan (1956) • mercury (Hg) released into wastewater bioaccumulates in organisms b/c it’s a heavy metal • Hg biomagnifies up the food chain • resulted in mercury poisoning for residents • human and pet deaths raised awareness of industrial contamination of food supplies • Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (1962) • documented negative impacts of pesticides on the environment • painted picture of spring with no bird or insect life • credited with launching the modern environmental movement • Love Canal (1978) • Hooker Co. sold land to local school board with deed detailing toxic waste buried at site • school & neighborhood built on the site despite warnings • buried waste seeped into groundwater • high rates of cancer and other long-term health problems in area raised suspicions • established toxic chemical waste as a national issue • Three-mile Island (1979) • partial core meltdown in Pennsylvania • worst nuclear accident in the US • solidified public concern about safety of nuclear energy • new government regulations significantly slowed development/construction of new nuclear facilities in US • Bhopal, India (1984) • Union Carbide pesticide plant accidentally released toxic cyanide gas into atmosphere • killed approximately 15,000 people - world’s worst industrial accident • groundwater contamination and legal proceedings still ongoing • UC paid approx. US$350 million in compensation • corporate responsibility for effects/damages to people • whaling & Save the Whales (1986) • scientists noted 50,000 whales killed annually & populations plummeting • International Whaling Commission (IWC) banned commercial whaling in 1986 to allow whale populations to recover • Japan, Iceland, Norway refuse to comply • controversy: some species have recovered, others have not; depends on perspective • Chernobyl (1986)

• core explosion at nuclear power plant in Ukraine • worst nuclear disaster in history • large radioactive cloud spread over many countries - introduced idea of international consequences from local events • raised concerns about nuclear power production and forced Soviet government to be more open • early in age of 24-hr cable TV news, so highly publicized

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.

Reflect upon where you stand on the continuum of environmental philosophies with regard to specific issues arising throughout the syllabus, such as population control, resource exploitation, sustainable development, and so on.

Assessment Questions:

Choose one of the following sample individuals and place them on the continuum of environmental philosophies described above and in Figure 6.

• a Muslim subsistence farmer in West Africa • a wealthy Christian doctor in Western Europe • a Buddhist monk living in Thailand • an agnostic investment banker in New York City • a Catholic lumberjack in southern Chile

Brad Kremer 2010 - 2011 [email protected]