Blog #2 - Of Politicians and Tar Sands...

Nickolas Kosmenko



Reading Summaries

The following paragraphs summarize sections 4, 6, 15, 16, 26, and 28 from the book Environmental Studies, Third Edition (Easton 2009).

Section 4 – A Sand County Almanac

This section conveys the psychological change toward nature Aldo Leopold went through upon shooting a wolf and looking into its eyes as it died.  Prior to this event, Leopold was blind in his ways, believing more wolves only meant less deer for human consumption.  However, after the occurrence, he realized the folly associated with then-current wildlife management practices.  Leopold concluded an ethical relationship was lacking between man and nature.  For thousands of years, man had received benefit from the land, but had not developed an obligation to it.  An ethical relationship was missing, but was necessary and possible.

Today there is still a large disconnect from the land and a lack of intrinsic value for nature.  For an ethical relationship to occur, cooperation between man and nature must replace the dominant standpoint we have selfishly strived to maintain for centuries.  However, to facilitate such change requires that we overcome current educational and economic systems that are economically, and not ethically, based.

Section 6 – The Historical Routes of Our Ecological Crisis

This chapter examines man’s centuries of land exploitation in an attempt to discover when said exploitation began and how humanity can move toward a more environmentally ethical way of being. 

It is thought humanistic development – wherein scientific thinking married technological power – began as early as in the Middle Ages.  At this time, a new plough was developed with greater ability to tear soil.  The efficiency of this plough led to increased farming area, facilitating the start of a ceaseless pursuit of progress following the old style of thinking brought upon by Christianity, wherein humans are meant to rule over the land.  This Christian view lives on today, and combined with more technological developments and scientific knowledge, continues to be the poison the earth now suffers from.  The author speculates that since the cause of our ecological crisis stems from religion, so should the solution, and that we should accept the view of spiritual revolutionary Saint Francis, who believed all creatures are equal (Franciscanism).

Section 15 – More Profit with Less Carbon

Suggested in this section is the theory that implementing methods of climate protection would actually reduce costs of energy use, not raise them.  Today, many energy efficient products are on the market for less cost than that of their non-efficient counterparts, and many homes are saving energy by integrating these implements along with other measures throughout their entirety, which could also be done on a larger scale in factories and office buildings.  As well, to reduce the significant oil consumption and carbon emissions associated with transportation, it is believed manufacturers could incorporate into vehicles more lightweight material and new innovations in propulsion and aerodynamics without sacrificing comfort, safety, or affordability.  Further, the author suggests changing urban layout to allow for more walking and less driving, and using more renewables, as many countries have already began to adopt.  If these measures are taken, climate change will slow, and in the end, climate change is cheaper to fix than to ignore.

Section 16 – Reinventing the Energy System

On the outside, fossil fuels seem convenient, reliable, and affordable, which make them the dominant source of energy used today.  However, current trends indicate the beginning of a global energy transition away from fossil fuels.  In this passage, the author examines this movement.

Growing energy demands cannot be met by fleeting oil deposits.  As such, humanity is moving toward wind and solar power, with hydrogen fuel cells being a potential energy source.  In the future, it is believed each country, each being geographically different, will have its own way to naturally fulfill its power need, so no major importing or exporting will be required, thus limiting international crises.  These renewable sources are predicted to be especially productive in developing areas, as innovation in these countries is lacking but population is substantial.  If this occurs, global energy distribution would become more even.  However, even with all these improvements, the demand for energy is great and changes in values and lifestyle must be made if renewables are to be successful.

Section 26 – Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis

This section is part of a report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which examines past, present, and future trends in climate across the globe including causes of trends.  In summary, the IPCC reported an exponential increase in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentration over the past few decades resulting from fossil fuel use, agriculture, and anthropogenic land changes.  These gases have lead to increased global land and ocean temperatures, decreased snow cover at polar latitudes, decreased glacier size, rising ocean levels, changes in precipitation, wind patterns, and ocean salinity, and increases in quantity of extreme weather events such as tropical cyclones and heat waves.  Further, the IPCC predicts changes will continue into the future to an even greater extent than that which already exists.  In fact, warming would continue even if greenhouse gas emissions ceased immediately, as carbon dioxide takes a long time to remove from the atmosphere.   

Section 28 – Food Security: An Environmental Wakeup Call

Until now, many of the negative impacts humans have induced on the environment have occurred locally.  However, due to increasing damage, these effects will soon become global.  It is believed such global impacts will result in economic decline, shown by rising prices of grain, fish, and other foods as they begin to disappear.  These rising prices will not be accepted by society, and political upheaval will result. 

As the human population increases, cropland area and quantity of irrigation water per capita decrease, necessitating the need to confront the two most difficult obstacles in the path toward environmental sustainability: increasing human population and changes in climate.  Humanity must change its reproductive behaviour and become more energy efficient.  The latter can be achieved through protecting cropland, charging people for water, and lowering the demand for livestock and grain through taxes for consumption.  This wouldn’t solve the food problem indefinitely, but it would buy more time to stabilize human population.  To ensure secure food resources for the future, environmental degradation must cease.

Activity

For my activity, I chose to watch the video Being Caribou.  In this film, a husband and wife follow the Porcupine Caribou herd from Dawson City in Canada’s Yukon Territory to their calving grounds on the northern coast of Alaska, and part way back again.  The journey, which takes over 130 days starting in April to complete, was inspired by fear of potential impacts that would occur on the caribou herd if the United States decided to drill for oil near the northern Alaskan coast – an activity which has been discussed and debated for decades.  Along the journey, the two individuals learn a lot about the caribou herd including how much adversity the caribou must overcome in terms of not only the vast distance to be covered, but the numerous predators along the way, the extreme weather, and the clouds of mosquitoes, botflies, and other parasites.  As well, the travellers point out the fragility of the herd, and how even a slight disturbance causes large disruptions in migrational patterns.  Further, the video depicts the large quantity of animal activity that normally occurs in the area where drilling is desired.

Reflections

Activity Reflection

I thought the beginning of the film Being Caribou was very eye-opening in terms of providing insight into what type of leaders are being elected to run developed countries such as the United States.  Specifically, I am speaking in regards to the part of the film in which George Bush Sr. conveys his pro-drilling mentality, and how he would rather help feed society’s greed by providing yet more oil instead of take the environmentally ethical approach and letting the land be.  I believe the precise quote is, “I’m worrying about jobs for the American people.  I’ll go with the people, let them go with the caribou.”  One of the things that most confused me in this video occurred directly after this statement.  At this instant, for some reason the audience claps instead of throwing tomatoes and spewing profanity.  Nonetheless, the video proves the anthropocentric gene must run in the Bush family, as his son is later captured on video uttering similar blasphemy.  In this clip, George Bush Jr. is shown urging people to go to Alaska for a visit, saying they can determine how beautiful the land is once they’ve seen it, thereby implying it is some sort of wasteland.  Now, both George Bush Sr. and Jr. have likely visited many areas of the world, being the important individuals they are, but do you think they have ever travelled the path of the caribou?  Have they ever paddled up to a loon calling on a still lake, or conversed with a bull moose during the rutting season?  Have they ever seen through truly ethical, spiritual eyes granted to them by their Creator, or are they blinded by a title granted to them by man?  It is a pity this film doesn’t show George Jr.’s reaction to the caribou journey, as I am curious to see if the message got past the barrier that is his ego and desire to maintain his image.  It is a sad truth that people so lost in their ways can turn themselves off so easily to films, books, and others who preach environmental reverence.  Perhaps if George Sr. and Jr. followed those caribou, paddled up to that loon, or spoke with that moose, perhaps they would then understand that which cannot be put into words or captured on film… that which must be experienced.

One of the things I most like about Being Caribou is the hope it gives to those who choose to listen to their hearts instead of their greed.  The two journeyers in the film are obviously not the most skilled when it comes to outdoor living – as denoted by their choice of skis where snowshoes would be preferred, or their suggested failure to carry a firearm while following thousands of herbivores through bear country – but they show something many people lack: intrinsic value for something beautiful.  This film shows there are people out there willing to spend their lives working toward the best cause that can be worked toward, and it comforts me to know there are people like this.  When I was in college, one of my instructors mentioned how students in environmental programs should have personal therapists.  For the most part, people enrol in such programs following an interest and love they have for nature.  Hearing about environmental issues and seeing certain films pointing these issues out is hardest on those who truly care.  There is strength and comfort in numbers, and the bigger the group is, the less money you have to spend on a therapist.

Class Reflection # 1

One of the reflections I wanted to make is related to the terms anthropocentric, biocentric, and ecocentric, and where my loyalties lie in regards to the three.  The first term is easily ruled out for me, as I believe anthropocentric is another word meaning “truly and utterly lost”.  However, I am unsure as to whether I am biocentric or ecocentric.  I believe all organisms are important, as all are connected in some way, even though as humans we often don’t realize many of these connections.  However, I realize the overall functioning of an ecosystem is what makes the globe turn and what makes life on earth continue forward.  Perhaps I am more ecocentric than biocentric… but given the situation wherein I would have the job of eliminating an entire species to preserve an ecosystem’s function, I would definitely have a hard time.  In my heart I would want to look out for all species, but in my brain I would want to keep the functioning of the ecosystem in mind.  Where does one draw the line between heart and brain?

Class Reflection #2

For my second reflection, I comment on the questions, “Can parks meet their dual mandate of access and protection?  How can this be achieved in Wapusk National Park?”

At first, one may believe if the mandate is to protect an ecosystem, the public should not be involved, as historically the public has been known to mess things up.  For instance, in the past few decades, society’s demand for oil has increased, and many world leaders have strived to meet this demand.  Many world leaders feel the same way about sacrificing the environment as many university students feel about sacrificing a couple hours of sleep before the day of an exam: it takes its toll and disrupts a biological system, but by doing so, you may be able to fulfill your greed for oil… or marks.  Thus, many biological systems have become degraded.  Although, it is possible to protect an ecosystem while allowing humans to interact with it, but only if the humans doing the interacting truly value the ecosystem.  For instance, an ecosystem is like a bathroom… sort of… I suppose.  The manager of some public building may have a goal to keep a bathroom in the building clean, which is possible if people using the bathroom take care.  However, if there are disrespectful members of society allowed to use this bathroom, it will eventually become disgusting and require a major cleaning.  Therefore, one may conclude the best way for Wapusk National Park to protect polar bears is to prohibit human visitors entirely. 

Now, the above statement may seem reasonable, but through many related discussions over the past couple years, I have learned there is no easy answer to such a question.  The aforementioned solution comes at a price.  Wild areas are decreasing at an alarming rate – a fact well-known.  Therefore, it is getting harder for people to experience nature first-hand.  Experiencing, I believe, is the best way to learn… it is the difference between university and college.  Trying to develop an understanding of wildlife by reading books or watching films is like trying to learn how to do a specific job by going to university.  You may attain some understanding, but, if education is the sole consideration, any college student with the same number of educational years in his or her repertoire would likely beat you out of any job in his or her field of study due to greater accumulation of job-specific skills.  Therefore, less people will develop an intrinsic value for nature if disallowed to experience it first-hand, and it is this intrinsic value that is needed today.  In conclusion, there is no easy answer to this question, as there is no easy answer to most environmental questions.

Class Reflection #3

In class we learned about the Alberta tar sands project and a question arose from the lecture material that asked where we stood in regards to the continuation of the project.  I would like to see the tar sands project stopped altogether.  I realize the tar sands employ many people, but they are also responsible for annihilating a very significant quantity of wildlife habitat in Alberta, not to mention other associated impacts such as toxins in the meat of moose and fish existing in the vicinity.  I care not for what I can gain from natural ecosystems, save for feelings of peace and respite, but I care deeply for the freedom wild things deserve to remain wild and clean, as the Creator intended.  I would sooner see myself and the rest of the world suffer and allow freedom to what is truly good in this world than I would see the continuation of the world as, or worse than, it already is.

Nick