Assignment # 1
Reading Summaries
Summary: Collapse: How
Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed
Many societies have existed on earth; we know this because
they left their monumental structures behind as they died out and eventually
went extinct. The reason why many civilizations do not exist today because they
have destroyed their ecosystem and exhausted their resources faster than it can
be replenished, and we are doomed to repeat their fate if we do not learn from
their mistakes. Signs of ecocide and natural resource exhaustion have already
shown itself in third world countries, along with four new problems including:
human-caused climate change, build up of toxic chemicals in the environment,
energy shortages, and full human utilization of the Earth’s photosynthetic
capacity, and the problem is still growing. If we do not start to address these
problems, not only will we see these problems in third world countries, we will
also see them in first world countries. To address these problems we must first
work together with the big corporations who specialize in resource consumption
so that we can preserve our natural resources.
Summary: Human Carrying Capacity
The earth is similar to an island, and much like the species
that inhabit the island, we humans are bound to the earth’s limits and the
resources it provides us. When we use up the resources on our “island” many problems
will follow, with resources being scarce people will wage wars, starvation and
disease will sweep the land. With the discovery of fire, humans have moved
beyond the control of the earth for, we are no longer bound by environmental
factors to keep our population at sustainable levels. In fact, there is no set
number where the human population is sustainable. To determine this, we would
have to look at many different factors besides “total number of humans”, Factors
including: standard of living, morals, fashions and tastes, where as these
factors vary from location to location upon the earth. We as a species are now
are only bound by ourselves, and it is up to us to determine what our planet
can sustain, and to control our population levels so that we remain within
those levels.
Summary: Tragedy of
the Commons
The problem with exhausting our natural resources lies with
the over population of the human species and the high standard of living we
have grown so accustomed to. There is no “technological” solution we can come
up with to keep our standards of living and save the environment from the
destruction we set upon it, the only solution is if we change our ways. Whether
it is simple as control the number of offspring we reproduce, or use less and
recycle, the fact of the matter is, we as a species must change our ways. As we
progress through life, we are taught to strive for success, if there is a way
to increase our self gain, do so. However through further education, we learn
the negative feedback of the actions we take to achieve those profits and can
determine if it is a good idea to proceed with these plans. To use a natural
resource with the pursuit of profit with the mentality that they will supply us
with an infinite amount of resource is incorrect and damaging, when in fact
there is a finite number of resources the environment can provide. Instead of harvesting
a resource to the extent of collapsing, we must restrict our use of it, and
decrease our dependency on it so that it can be sustained.
Activity
Reflection on: Ted Talk Fragile earth
After watching the video, I must say I strongly agree with
the video. Humans are the most intelligent species on the planet, yet despite
our great knowledge, we decide to ignore it, “ignore what we know”. We know our
current practices are damaging the earth, that we are exhausting our natural
resources to the point that we threaten our very existence, yet we do nothing
to change our practices. We are far too concerned with making our lives better
with the accumulation of profits, and we are more concerned with the present
than the not too distant future. We are animals, we just because of our larger
brains does not make us superior to any other species, yet we consume natural
resources like it is our right to because of our larger brains, and if we keep
on this road, we only find our own destruction at the end of it. Reflecting on
myself as a human being, I must admit that I am addicted to the life style I
live, the luxuries of computers, motorized vehicles and electricity is
something I don’t think I would be able to give up. Currently I do recycle,
take the transit or walk whenever possible; however I still feel my
contribution isn’t as much as I could give. The ted talk really makes me look
at myself in a different perspective, makes me second guess is this way of
living correct, if not, what can I do to change.
Reflection
Reflection: is there a danger in becoming too disconnected
from nature?
I think there is an enormous danger to becoming too
disconnected from nature. Without experiencing nature, one cannot realize just
how fragile life is, how we take the resources that the earth provides us for granted.
By living solely in the manufactured habitat we created, we lose the
appreciation for nature that we once had, once that appreciation is gone, the
influence of that appreciation on environmentally damaging decisions will also disappear
with it. Once decisions are made without considering the effects on the
environment, we no longer make decisions that will help sustain the human
species in the long term. Burying our children in technology, or being too lazy
to take them out in the wilderness has the same effect, disconnection from
nature. Our children will one day lead our countries and make the decisions that
may make or break human kind as we know it, and without an appreciation for
nature, it is likely they may make the wrong decisions.
Reflection: where do your environmental ethics lie?
I would have to say that my environmental ethics lie with
Biocentrism. I am a believer that all species are equal and deserve to live on this
planet. I also believe the individual is more important than the system itself.
I think that “just because the system still functions” doesn’t necessarily mean
that the system is healthy. Regardless if the system still functions without a
species, does not make a species inferior. Similar to the idea, even though we humans
have larger brains than any other species on the planet, does not give us the
title of “superior”. All species despite size, color, or cuteness deserve the
right to live on the earth.
Spend 1 hour in silence with Nature and reflect:
Over the weekend I went fishing with my dad as usual, but
this time I kept in my mind to observe the natural world and the different experiences
and feelings I have to gain. Immediately after arriving, I feel a soothing
calmness sweep over my body, being free from the chattering of traffic, the
buzzing of electronics and away from the illuminating street lights. I sat on a
rock and observed the water as I slowly reeled in my lure, “so simple, this is
nice” I thought to myself. Shortly after I caught my first fish, it was a bit
too small to keep but I observed it swim away I felt a feeling of guilt, how
accustomed I’ve become to the shelter of the city, the luxuries of technology and
the disconnection from the natural world. It all felt so surreal to me, I wasn’t
even aware how different the natural world was from the synthetic “cocoon” we
humans have woven for ourselves despite only being an hour away from the city.
After coming home, I realized how important it is for one to remember how much
we as an animal species depend on the natural world and the resources it
provides, and if we don’t change, future generations may not get to experience catching
a fish, or letting the little guy go.
