DOCUMENT RESUME ED 068 338 SE 014 911 AUTHOR Eegerberg, Osborn, Jr. TITLE Man Builds, Man Destroys. INSTITUTION New York State Education Dept. ,'Albany. Bureau of Mass Communications. PUB DATE 72 NOTE 188p. EDRS PRICE MF-$0.65 HC-$6.58 DESCRIPTORS *Ecology; *Environmental Education; *Instructional Materials; Programing (Broadcast) ; Resource Materials; Social Action; *Supplementary Textbooks; *Televised Instruction; Units of Study (Subject Fields) ABSTRACT Supplementing a television video tape series for environmental understanding, this manual offersa coordinated series of action and information presentationson the need for environmental change. Designed to present realit.;_es of action thatman may take anywhere in the world to help preserve the limitedresources of this planet, the series has drawn on the thoughts and adviceof many concerned ecologists and economic specialists.Numerous aspects of individual, corporate, and governmental impacton the quality of the total environment are examined. Focusing onman as a part of the environment rather than apart from it, the emphasis ison the environmental impact, good and bad, of man's interaction withnature and what the cost is, whether it be pollution, trade-off,or benefit. Thirteen units have been developed to consider these environmental problems, solutions, and evaluations. Each unit begins witha perspective of the problem or situation followed bya summary of the broadcast information. To encourage personal action andinvolvement, many suggestions are given to answer the question "what can I do ? ". Completing the unit are sources for further information--books, articles, films, and organizations. (BL) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. EDUCATION & WELFAR.1 OFFICE OF EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRO. DUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM THE PERSON OR ORGkNIZATION ORIG INATING IT. POINTS OF VIEW OR OPIN 'IONS STATED DO HOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT OFFICIAL DFFICE OF EDU- MAN BUILDS CATION POSITION OR POLICY MAN DESTROYS /1111101111111 A TELEVISION VIDEO TAPE SERIES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL UNDERSTANDING THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ALBANY, N. Y. 12224 MI ACTION GUIDE WRITTEN BY OFFICE OF CULTURAL EDUCATION OSBORN SEGERBERG, JR. BUREAU OF MASS COMMUNICATIONS STATE SCIENCE SERVICE MAN BUILDS MAN DEZTROYS WRITTEN BY OSBORN SEGERBERG, JR. r- A TELEVISION VIDEO TAPE SERIES FOR PRODUCED BY ENVIRONMENTAL UNDERSTANDING THE NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND UNITED NATIONS TELEVISION IN COOPERATION WITH THE ONTARIO EDUCATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY, T.R. IDE, CHAIRMAN THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OFNEW YORK Regents of the University (withyearswhen terms expire) 1984Joseph W. McGovern, A.B., J.D., L.H.D.,LL.D., D.C.L., Chancellor New York 1985 Everett J. Penny, B.C.S., D.C.S., Vice Chancellor White Plains 1978Alexander J. Allan, Jr., LL.D., Litt.D Troy 1973CharlesW. Millard, Jr., A.B., LL.D., L.HD Buffalo 1987 Carl H. Pforzheirrer, Jr., A.B.,M.B.A., D.C.S., H.H.D....... Purchase 1975EdwardM. M. Warburg, B.S., L.H D New York 1977JosephT. King, LL.B Queens 1974Joseph C. Indelicato, M D Brooklyn 1976 Mrs. Helen B. Power, A.B., Litt.D.,L.H.D., LL.D Rochester 1979FrancisW. McGinley, B.S., J.D., LL.D Glens Falls 1980Max J.Rubin, LL.B., L.H D New York 1986 Kenneth B. Clark, A.B., M.S., Ph.D.,LL.D., L.H.D., D.Sc. Hastings on Hudson 1982Stephen K. Bailey, A.B., B.A., M.A.,Ph.D., LL.D Syracuse 1983Harold E. Newcomb, B.A Owego 1981TheodoreM. Black, A.B., Litt.D Sands Point PresidentoftheUniversity and Carmissioner ofEducation Ewald B. Nyquist Executive Deputy Commissioner of Education Gordon M. Ambach AssociateCommissioner for Cultural Education John G. Boughton Chief, Bureauof MassCommunications Bernarr Cooper ACKNCWLEDGMENTS "Man Builds - Man Destroys" was conceived as a series of action and information presentations on the need for environmental change. Designed to present realities of action that nen may take anywhere in the world, to help preserve the limited resources of this planet, the series has drawn on the thought, the well-intentioned advice, and the dedication of many of the world's concerned ecologists. It would not he possible to give recognition to all those who have dedicated professional thought and personal effort to the series, thus far. As usual in any media effort at the United Nations, Michael Hayward, Chief of Visual Services, is the organizational focus for this massive production effort. For excellent administration of the production of the series, we are indebted to Peter Hollander who was and continues to be the EXecutive Producer. The initial content planning and delineation of focused approach was a major contribution from three leading scientists of the New York State Museum and Science Service:D. L. Collins, State entanologist, and chief scientist, Biological Survey; E. M. Reilly, Jr., senior scientist, zoology; and James F. Davis, State geologist, and chief scientist. To the many experts on environmental need who so willingly appear and lend their thought and effort to enlarging the understanding of all of us, we give special thanks.As is always his custan, William J. Hetzer, associate in Educational Television for the New York State Education Department, has ably seen to much of the finite detail which has made the distribution of this series a possibility. Bernarr Cooper Chief Bureau of Mass annunicaticns iii 4 UNITED NATIONS PRODUCTIONSTAFF FOR MAN BUILDS- MAN DESTROYS George Movshon Chief, Television and FilmSection Peter Hollander Executive Producer INDIVIDUAL PROGRAM PRODUCERS Boris Holtzman Joseph O'Brien Osborn Segerberg, Jr. Claire Taplin iv Preface The realization of man's total involvement with the biosphere, his love -hate relationship with the natural environment is a concept which, in less than a decade, has experienced a quantum jump from total unawareness and lack of concern to a state of individual nail biting, national debate (sometimes querulous), and restrictive legislation, and now international parleys and agreements. With little or no population control on a worldwide basis, we have learned that what appeared to be isolated instances or localized phenomena of specialized pollution have coalesced into a total degradation of global ecosystems - an accumulation of abuse which must be reversed if we are to survive.The shock of this realization has brought forth a mixed bag of reactions, mostly disorganized and nonconstructive. These range from the wry cynicism of the natural scientists, who saw this situation developing, but whose warnings were ignored so long as they applied to birds or marshes or water tables, to the hysterical frenzy of the environ- mental demagogue, the purveyor of misinformation and overreaction.Doansaying is as ineffectual for the total good as was the previous indifference. Environmental education is the means by which lay citizens can learn the fundamental truths of the Man/Nature interdependence, what has happened to throw this out of balance, and what can rationally be done to cope with the situation - or correct it. It also leads to a greater appreciation of the wonders of the natural system, of which man is only a part. A citizen sophisticated about the environment can weigh and balance, supporting measures which are for the good of his community, his region, his world, and rejecting those which are hasty, ill-considered, or actually counterproductive to the well-being of man in the current life style to which his particular culture and eamumny have broughthim. This leads to the further realization that one nation's freedom of actionmay work to the environmental detriment of another nation, and thatdrastic corrective measures taken by one developed nation may be completelyunsuitable fora developing nation which has neither themoney nor the skilled technologyto act other than in its an desperate self-interest. This was the crux of the recent Stockholm Conference on the environment.A worldwide cooperative effort is required - the haves must help the havenots, eccnomically and technologically, on behalfof a viable global existence. This series of video tapes, Nan Builds- Man Destroys," is a contribution to environmental education.With examples drawn franacross the world, filmed on location, and with the cooperationof knowledgeable experts in the conplex of environmental and economicspecialties, practically every aspect of individual, corporate, and governmental irrpcton the quality of the total environment is emnined. The emphasisis on the environmental impact, good and bad, of man's interaction withnature and what the cost is, whether it be pollution, "trade off," or benefit. This series assumes the viewer to be thoughtful, perceptive, and open minded- a viewer truly receptive to completeenvironmental education. In my opinion, this is the most informative and balancedvideo presentation of environmental problems, solutions, andevaluations which has yet been produced for general use. When viewed with the guidanceof Osborn Segerberg's perceptive guidebook, this series makesan outstanding and un- biased contribution to man's understanding of hisplace and role on this "Blue Planet." John B. Broughton Associate Commissioner for Cultural Education vi CONTENTS Section Pale Acknowledgments iii Preface Introduction 1 1. IT CAN BE DONE 9 2. SCARS ON THE SURFACE 27 3. AMONG THE LIVING 43 4. POWER TO THE PEOPLE 55 5. ALL THE FISH IN THE SEA 71 6. THE CAR IN THE CITY 83 7. YOU CAN HELP -- THROW IT HERE 95 8. SIX FATHOMS DEEP 109 9. FLOW GENTLY 121 10. STRIKING A BALANCE 139 11. THE AIR WE BREATHE 157 12. ONLY ONE EARTH (THE STOCKHOLM CONFERENCE) 171 13. UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT 187 Guide to Film Distributors 200 G. vii 8 INTRODUCTION Three observers regard an object. One, standing at point A, sees a triangle. A second, from point B, sees a circle. The third, at position C, correctly perceives a cone.The one difference among these observers is perspective. Even without changing physical position, we have been able to change our perspective by standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before us.At one time, men assumed that the earth was the center of the universe.