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1.1- Environmental Value Systems - Coggle Diagram
1.1- Environmental Value Systems
EVS:
A worldview that shapes the way people perceive and evaluate environmental issues.
Influenced by cultural, economic and soicio-political factors.
Environmental Philosophies
Anthropocentrism- People Centered
Humans are responsible for sustainable global systems through control of population and resource use
Environmental Managers: Economic growth and resource use can continue if adjustments are made to policies (taxes, laws…)
Technocentrism – Technology Centered
Technology can keep pace and provide solutions to environmental issues.
Cornucopian: Man can always find a way out of any difficulties
Ecocentrism – Nature Centered
Holistic and sustainable worldview, minimum disturbance of nature
Deep Ecologists: Natural laws dictate human morality; Nature is needed for humanity and has rights
Self-Reliance soft ecologists: Focus on community involvement to change political policies an practices
Historical influences on the environmental movement
Modern environmental movement starts in 1962, when Rachel Carson published her book, Silent Spring.
She warned of the effects of pesticides (DDT, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) on insects and how these pass along to the food chain, bioaccumulating in fatty acids and causing risks of cancer.
Chemical industries tried to ban the book but many scientists shared her concerns. An investigation was ordered by US president John F. Kennedy, which confirmed her fears…so finally DDT was banned.
But the banning of DDT may have caused more harm than good by allowing the mosquitoes that carry malaria to survive and spread the disease.
Minamata Bay Disaster
Chisso Corporation built a chemical factory in Minamata, Japan. It was successful for years but a by-product was methyl mercury which bioaccumulated in shellfish, fish.. causing mercury poisoning. Mercury is a heavy metal that affects directly the nervous system causing loss of vision, hearing, speech, lack of coordination of arms and legs…)
In1959, the first human patient of what soon became known as Minamata disease was identified. Symptoms included convulsions, slurred speech, loss of motor functions and uncontrollable limb movements.
As a result of wastewater pollution by the plastic manufacturer, mercury and other heavy metals found their way into the fish and shellfish that comprised a large part of the local diet.
Thousands of residents have slowly suffered over the decades and died from the disease.
Mad Hatters
Mercury was also used in the hat-making industry in the 20th century. Hat makers were known to often suffer mental illnesses although nobody knew why. This is the basis of the name of the «Mad Hatter» in Alice in Wonderland
Historical Influence Bhopal, India
Dec. 2, 1984, a Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal released 45 tons of poisonous methyl isocyanate escaping from the facility.
Thousands died within hours, 15,000 in all.
About half a million people were affected . Many survivors suffered blindness, organ failure and other awful bodily malfunctions. A high number of children in the area have been born severe birth defects.
Bhopal remains the worst industrial disaster ever
Historical Influence Chernobyl, Ukraine
The worst nuclear-power-plant disaster in history. On April 26, 1986, one of the reactors at the Chernobyl power plant in Ukraine exploded
Nuclear meltdown released radiation into the atmosphere.
Thousands of kids have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
EVS of two named societies
Buddhist
Judaeo-Christian: separation of body and soul, matter and spirit; Genesis demonstrates stewardship of the Earth or control?; “Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground and subdue it’” (Genesis 1:28)