The Self, Meaning and Sustainability
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For more information, Please see websites below:
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Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children
http://scribd.com/doc/239851214
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Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech
http://scribd.com/doc/239851079
`
Free School Gardening Art Posters
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159`
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Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159
`
Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success
http://scribd.com/doc/239851348
`
City Chickens for your Organic School Garden
http://scribd.com/doc/239850440
`
Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide
http://scribd.com/doc/239851110
The Neoliberal Colonization on Nature and Our Deep Ecological Selves
Presented at the National Association of Multicultural Educators Annual Conference in November 2014 in Tucson, AZ.
Slideshows about nonviolence and nonviolent resolution of conflicts, economic alternatives, ecology, social change, spirituality : www.irnc.org , Slideshows in english
The bad state of our planet
The reasons to believe
Presented at the March 26, 2015 SEPS-GC meeting at CCSU. The focus is on the nature-based forms of discrimination that form social discriminations and lead us to issues of unsustainability. This is a modified presentation from my NAME presentation in November 2014.
This document summarizes a presentation on sustainability thinking as a new paradigm for philosophy, pedagogy, and learning theory. It discusses how current education systems were designed to produce compliant workers and promote convergent thinking, which contributes to unsustainability. In contrast, sustainability requires divergent thinking, contextualized learning in communities, and reconnecting education with environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Teaching students to think divergently about local issues affecting peace and sustainability in various contexts through democratic discourse and responsibility is key to preparing them for a sustainable future.
This document summarizes a talk on teaching at the intersection of diversity, social justice, and ecojustice. It discusses several topics: (1) the relationship between poor environmental conditions and marginalized groups; (2) the clash between European/American and indigenous/West African worldviews and resulting domination/genocide; (3) Christianity's shift away from nature-based spirituality; (4) methods for disrupting anthropocentric thinking and exploring mindsets through place-based learning. The talk promotes an ecojustice pedagogy of investigating intersections between cultural values and ecology.
The document discusses how an individual's sense of self is comprised of an economic, social, and ecological self, similar to how sustainability has economic, social, and environmental pillars. It argues that Western culture primarily values the economic self over the social and ecological selves. For true happiness and sustainability, an individual must cultivate all three parts of their self. However, modern society is weakening people's social and ecological selves through factors like urbanization and technology use. The document calls for reconnecting with nature and community to strengthen one's full sense of self.
The Venus Project proposes a resource-based global civilization without money or governments. Resources would be allocated based on need rather than markets or profits. Automation and technology would be used to ensure global abundance and eliminate scarcity, poverty, and environmental destruction. Aberrant and criminal behaviors are seen as products of the current dysfunctional social system rather than inherent to individuals. The goal is for computers and cybernetics to manage resources and infrastructure to meet human and environmental needs, not to monitor or control people.
The Neoliberal Colonization on Nature and Our Deep Ecological Selves
Presented at the National Association of Multicultural Educators Annual Conference in November 2014 in Tucson, AZ.
Slideshows about nonviolence and nonviolent resolution of conflicts, economic alternatives, ecology, social change, spirituality : www.irnc.org , Slideshows in english
The bad state of our planet
The reasons to believe
Presented at the March 26, 2015 SEPS-GC meeting at CCSU. The focus is on the nature-based forms of discrimination that form social discriminations and lead us to issues of unsustainability. This is a modified presentation from my NAME presentation in November 2014.
This document summarizes a presentation on sustainability thinking as a new paradigm for philosophy, pedagogy, and learning theory. It discusses how current education systems were designed to produce compliant workers and promote convergent thinking, which contributes to unsustainability. In contrast, sustainability requires divergent thinking, contextualized learning in communities, and reconnecting education with environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Teaching students to think divergently about local issues affecting peace and sustainability in various contexts through democratic discourse and responsibility is key to preparing them for a sustainable future.
This document summarizes a talk on teaching at the intersection of diversity, social justice, and ecojustice. It discusses several topics: (1) the relationship between poor environmental conditions and marginalized groups; (2) the clash between European/American and indigenous/West African worldviews and resulting domination/genocide; (3) Christianity's shift away from nature-based spirituality; (4) methods for disrupting anthropocentric thinking and exploring mindsets through place-based learning. The talk promotes an ecojustice pedagogy of investigating intersections between cultural values and ecology.
The document discusses how an individual's sense of self is comprised of an economic, social, and ecological self, similar to how sustainability has economic, social, and environmental pillars. It argues that Western culture primarily values the economic self over the social and ecological selves. For true happiness and sustainability, an individual must cultivate all three parts of their self. However, modern society is weakening people's social and ecological selves through factors like urbanization and technology use. The document calls for reconnecting with nature and community to strengthen one's full sense of self.
The Venus Project proposes a resource-based global civilization without money or governments. Resources would be allocated based on need rather than markets or profits. Automation and technology would be used to ensure global abundance and eliminate scarcity, poverty, and environmental destruction. Aberrant and criminal behaviors are seen as products of the current dysfunctional social system rather than inherent to individuals. The goal is for computers and cybernetics to manage resources and infrastructure to meet human and environmental needs, not to monitor or control people.
Land accessibility the burden on socio â economic livelihood of women in akpo...Alexander Decker
Â
The document examines how land accessibility and land use change has created a socio-economic burden for women in Akpor Clan, Rivers State, Nigeria. It finds that as traditional farmland has been converted to other uses like residential and commercial due to population growth and policy changes, women have lost access and rights to the land they depend on for subsistence farming and livelihoods. This has increased unemployment, lowered household incomes, and forced women to take on informal jobs to support their families' needs.
The document discusses population and demography topics including:
- Population growth has rapidly increased over time, doubling from 1950-1987 as the world population reached 5 billion.
- The Philippines has one of the fastest growing populations in the world, ranking 13th in population size globally. Its population grew from 15 million in 1900 to over 60 million in 1990.
- Population change is influenced by three variables: fertility rates, mortality rates, and migration patterns. Reductions in mortality contributed to global population growth while migration has not significantly impacted growth in most countries.
New democratic movements for global regeneration_driessen 2019TravisDriessen1
Â
Our global species is confronted with the converging crisis of climate change, unsustainable levels of inequality, mass extinction, and growing water and natural resource scarcity that are threatening the existential crisis of collapse. This fallout has already led to massive displacement and refugee crisis across Latin America and the African continent. New democratic social movements are recombining and ushering in new opportunities for a revolution of regenerative settlements to be built out across the globe. Doing so, can create new opportunities to restore biodiversity and bring the atmosphere to safe operating levels, lift billions into unprecedented human prosperity, and transform global governance to promote a new era cooperation and usher in a new era of human discovery and peaceful co-existence.
Human ecology is an interdisciplinary field that studies the relationship between humans and their natural, social, and built environments. The postulate of human ecology states that on a limited area with limited resources, only a limited number of people with a certain behavior and culture can live to a certain standard while maintaining environmental quality. Overpopulation puts pressure on resources and can lead to issues like conflict over scarce resources, global migration, climate change, threats to political stability, and may even cause industrial civilization to collapse irreversibly. Recognizing the interdependence between humans and the environment, solutions need to be found through cooperation and changing perspectives on sustainability.
International conference on population in mexicoSaeed Anwar
Â
The International Conference on Population was held in Mexico City in 1984. It was attended by representatives from 147 member states of the UN. The main aims of the conference were to discuss social, economic and human development issues as they relate to population dynamics. Key topics included improving women's status, increasing access to family planning and reproductive healthcare, and promoting sustainable development. Many developing countries expressed support for population programs at the conference. The United States maintained a restrictive position on abortion. The conference reaffirmed the goals of the 1974 World Population Plan of Action and recognized both progress and ongoing challenges around issues of population growth, poverty, and development.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WOMEN IN DETERMINING THE CONSUMPTION PATTERN IN THE HOUSE...amita marwaha
Â
This document summarizes a study on the significance of women in determining consumption patterns in households in Uttar Pradesh, India. It discusses different models of intrahousehold resource allocation, including unitary and collective models. It finds that women's decision-making power and control over resources positively impacts children's health and nutrition, especially for girls. Data from the National Family Health Survey in Uttar Pradesh shows inequalities between boys and girls in areas like breastfeeding duration, healthcare access, and survival rates. The study aims to determine if increasing women's power within households can help reduce gender discrimination and better equalize well-being for boys and girls.
The document discusses the relationship between women and the environment. It notes that in the 1970s, Esther Boserup's book sparked interest in this topic. In the 1980s, policymakers began considering gender issues in environmental management. Women often have profound traditional knowledge of the natural world. The document also discusses how women's roles in agriculture and as gatherers of wood fuel came under increased scrutiny. It notes that environmental development has significant impacts on women.
1) The human population has grown rapidly from 1 billion people in the early 19th century to over 7 billion today due to declining death rates and continued high birth rates.
2) Population growth rates vary globally, with developing nations experiencing higher growth rates than developed nations. Some experts project that at current growth rates, the global population will double within 58 years.
3) Unchecked population growth puts pressure on the environment and risks depleting resources, as human activity already uses up to 1/3 of the planet's net primary production. Empowering women through education and access to family planning has been shown to reduce population growth rates.
Global issues are problems that affect large numbers of people across national boundaries, are beyond the capability of any one nation to resolve, and concern most or all countries. Key global issues include poverty, trade, inequality, migration, financial stability, debt, aid, water, forests, energy, fisheries, climate change, education, health, nutrition, infectious diseases, conflicts, corruption, and international governance. Understanding global issues requires examining their nature, underlying forces, current actions taken to address them, and potential consequences of inaction. While difficult to resolve due to failures of group decision making and public goods problems, global issues are addressed through international agreements, intergovernmental organizations, and partnerships between governments, businesses, civil society, and mult
New democratic movements for global regeneration driessen 2019TravisDriessen1
Â
Our global species is confronted with the converging crisis of climate change, unsustainable levels of inequality, mass extinction, and growing water and natural resource scarcity that are threatening the existential crisis of collapse. This fallout has already led to massive displacement and refugee crisis across Latin America and the African continent. New democratic social movements are recombining and ushering in new opportunities for a revolution of regenerative settlements to be built out across the globe. Doing so, can create new opportunities to restore biodiversity, bring the atmosphere to safe operating levels, lift billions into unprecedented human prosperity, and transform global governance to promote a new era cooperation, human discovery and peaceful co-existence.
This document discusses corporate environmentalism and neoliberalism, and proposes an alternative of ecofeminist care ethics. It argues that corporate environmentalism frames issues in a way that benefits corporations and elites, rather than the environment. Neoliberalism also fails to adequately address environmental damage. In contrast, ecofeminist care ethics values emotion and embodied experience, challenges human disconnection from nature, and sees care as a form of resistance against capitalist logic. An ethics of care could motivate transformative change through hope and responsibility.
UN, INGO,NGO Officials need Orientation on âsasrai-Movementâ Popeâs âbold cul...SM Farid Uddin Akhter
Â
The document discusses Pope Francis' call for a "bold cultural revolution" to combat climate change and consumption-driven lifestyles as outlined in his 2015 encyclical. It summarizes the main points of the encyclical which calls for recognizing the environmental and social crises as interconnected, reducing consumption and inequality, transitioning away from fossil fuels, and taking individual actions like reducing waste and travel. The document advocates for the "sasrai-Movement" which encourages saving resources to address these issues.
Sustainable Development with respect to Population GrowthIrfan Ansari
Â
The document discusses sustainable development with respect to population growth. It notes that meeting future needs depends on balancing social, economic, and environmental factors. Population growth impacts food supply, water availability, climate change, and biodiversity as population grows exponentially while resources grow arithmetically. To promote sustainable development, efforts are needed to slow population growth through improved access to family planning and reproductive health services. This would allow countries to invest in their economies and citizens' living standards while reducing environmental pressures from resource use and consumption. The conclusion stresses that sustainable development requires managing population growth along with other factors like resource conservation and cleaner technologies.
Outlines on environmental philosophy part 6Steven Ghezzo
Â
A study on the environmental issue from historical, anthropological, social, psychological, philosophical, economic, political and juridical perspectives
Ecofeminism examines the connections between the domination and oppression of women and nature. It argues that patriarchal societies treat women and nature in similar ways by exerting unjust dominance. Ecofeminism advocates for equality between genders and respect for all life. It emerged from the environmental and feminist movements of the 1970s-1980s and combines concerns about gender issues and the environment. Ecofeminists believe the liberation of women is connected to preserving nature and life on Earth.
Women face disadvantages related to the environment and natural resources due to traditional gender roles. They spend significant time collecting water, fuel, and farming without secure land rights. This limits their time for other activities and subjects them to health and safety risks. Integrating gender considerations into environmental policies and increasing women's access to resources and decision making can improve environmental sustainability and reduce poverty and hunger.
This letter from a mother to her children discusses important environmental issues and social justice topics. It explains four key forces impacting environmental sustainability: demography, growing demand for natural resources, globalization, and climate change. It also discusses the importance of environmental sociology and defines environmental justice as addressing unequal distribution of environmental benefits and burdens. The letter provides an example of environmental injustice from a book describing toxic pollution negatively impacting the health of families living in poverty near an oil company.
This document discusses the roles of several influential women in environmentalism and sustainable development. It introduces Rachel Carson, known for her book Silent Spring about the impacts of pesticides on nature. Maria Cherkasova is highlighted as a journalist and ecologist in Russia. Vandana Shiva and Wangari Maathai are presented as environmental activists advocating for traditional farming and reforestation, respectively. Medha Patkar and Sugathakumari led important movements involving dams and forest protection in India. Mayilamma protested the environmental impacts of Coca-Cola in her village. Overall the document emphasizes the importance of women's perspectives and participation in environmental issues and development.
The document discusses the complex relationship between child protection systems and poverty. It argues that children from impoverished families are overrepresented in child protection due to both the struggles of parenting in poverty and increased surveillance of poor communities. It critiques how neoliberal policies have contributed to a more punitive approach focused on individual failings rather than structural causes of disadvantage. The document calls for social work to take a more nuanced understanding of poverty, focus on engagement over assessment, and work towards redistribution and community support as part of a new practice paradigm.
Interaction 10 redux
Held at Adaptive Path March 06,2010
Meaningful Innovation Relies on Interaction and Service Design
Keynote presented by Nathan Shedroff
The potential and shortcomings of strategic ambiguity as management practice ...Luca Simeone
Â
This paper explores the role of strategic ambiguity as a management practice, as used in Senseable City Lab - a design-oriented lab located at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA.
Land accessibility the burden on socio â economic livelihood of women in akpo...Alexander Decker
Â
The document examines how land accessibility and land use change has created a socio-economic burden for women in Akpor Clan, Rivers State, Nigeria. It finds that as traditional farmland has been converted to other uses like residential and commercial due to population growth and policy changes, women have lost access and rights to the land they depend on for subsistence farming and livelihoods. This has increased unemployment, lowered household incomes, and forced women to take on informal jobs to support their families' needs.
The document discusses population and demography topics including:
- Population growth has rapidly increased over time, doubling from 1950-1987 as the world population reached 5 billion.
- The Philippines has one of the fastest growing populations in the world, ranking 13th in population size globally. Its population grew from 15 million in 1900 to over 60 million in 1990.
- Population change is influenced by three variables: fertility rates, mortality rates, and migration patterns. Reductions in mortality contributed to global population growth while migration has not significantly impacted growth in most countries.
New democratic movements for global regeneration_driessen 2019TravisDriessen1
Â
Our global species is confronted with the converging crisis of climate change, unsustainable levels of inequality, mass extinction, and growing water and natural resource scarcity that are threatening the existential crisis of collapse. This fallout has already led to massive displacement and refugee crisis across Latin America and the African continent. New democratic social movements are recombining and ushering in new opportunities for a revolution of regenerative settlements to be built out across the globe. Doing so, can create new opportunities to restore biodiversity and bring the atmosphere to safe operating levels, lift billions into unprecedented human prosperity, and transform global governance to promote a new era cooperation and usher in a new era of human discovery and peaceful co-existence.
Human ecology is an interdisciplinary field that studies the relationship between humans and their natural, social, and built environments. The postulate of human ecology states that on a limited area with limited resources, only a limited number of people with a certain behavior and culture can live to a certain standard while maintaining environmental quality. Overpopulation puts pressure on resources and can lead to issues like conflict over scarce resources, global migration, climate change, threats to political stability, and may even cause industrial civilization to collapse irreversibly. Recognizing the interdependence between humans and the environment, solutions need to be found through cooperation and changing perspectives on sustainability.
International conference on population in mexicoSaeed Anwar
Â
The International Conference on Population was held in Mexico City in 1984. It was attended by representatives from 147 member states of the UN. The main aims of the conference were to discuss social, economic and human development issues as they relate to population dynamics. Key topics included improving women's status, increasing access to family planning and reproductive healthcare, and promoting sustainable development. Many developing countries expressed support for population programs at the conference. The United States maintained a restrictive position on abortion. The conference reaffirmed the goals of the 1974 World Population Plan of Action and recognized both progress and ongoing challenges around issues of population growth, poverty, and development.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WOMEN IN DETERMINING THE CONSUMPTION PATTERN IN THE HOUSE...amita marwaha
Â
This document summarizes a study on the significance of women in determining consumption patterns in households in Uttar Pradesh, India. It discusses different models of intrahousehold resource allocation, including unitary and collective models. It finds that women's decision-making power and control over resources positively impacts children's health and nutrition, especially for girls. Data from the National Family Health Survey in Uttar Pradesh shows inequalities between boys and girls in areas like breastfeeding duration, healthcare access, and survival rates. The study aims to determine if increasing women's power within households can help reduce gender discrimination and better equalize well-being for boys and girls.
The document discusses the relationship between women and the environment. It notes that in the 1970s, Esther Boserup's book sparked interest in this topic. In the 1980s, policymakers began considering gender issues in environmental management. Women often have profound traditional knowledge of the natural world. The document also discusses how women's roles in agriculture and as gatherers of wood fuel came under increased scrutiny. It notes that environmental development has significant impacts on women.
1) The human population has grown rapidly from 1 billion people in the early 19th century to over 7 billion today due to declining death rates and continued high birth rates.
2) Population growth rates vary globally, with developing nations experiencing higher growth rates than developed nations. Some experts project that at current growth rates, the global population will double within 58 years.
3) Unchecked population growth puts pressure on the environment and risks depleting resources, as human activity already uses up to 1/3 of the planet's net primary production. Empowering women through education and access to family planning has been shown to reduce population growth rates.
Global issues are problems that affect large numbers of people across national boundaries, are beyond the capability of any one nation to resolve, and concern most or all countries. Key global issues include poverty, trade, inequality, migration, financial stability, debt, aid, water, forests, energy, fisheries, climate change, education, health, nutrition, infectious diseases, conflicts, corruption, and international governance. Understanding global issues requires examining their nature, underlying forces, current actions taken to address them, and potential consequences of inaction. While difficult to resolve due to failures of group decision making and public goods problems, global issues are addressed through international agreements, intergovernmental organizations, and partnerships between governments, businesses, civil society, and mult
New democratic movements for global regeneration driessen 2019TravisDriessen1
Â
Our global species is confronted with the converging crisis of climate change, unsustainable levels of inequality, mass extinction, and growing water and natural resource scarcity that are threatening the existential crisis of collapse. This fallout has already led to massive displacement and refugee crisis across Latin America and the African continent. New democratic social movements are recombining and ushering in new opportunities for a revolution of regenerative settlements to be built out across the globe. Doing so, can create new opportunities to restore biodiversity, bring the atmosphere to safe operating levels, lift billions into unprecedented human prosperity, and transform global governance to promote a new era cooperation, human discovery and peaceful co-existence.
This document discusses corporate environmentalism and neoliberalism, and proposes an alternative of ecofeminist care ethics. It argues that corporate environmentalism frames issues in a way that benefits corporations and elites, rather than the environment. Neoliberalism also fails to adequately address environmental damage. In contrast, ecofeminist care ethics values emotion and embodied experience, challenges human disconnection from nature, and sees care as a form of resistance against capitalist logic. An ethics of care could motivate transformative change through hope and responsibility.
UN, INGO,NGO Officials need Orientation on âsasrai-Movementâ Popeâs âbold cul...SM Farid Uddin Akhter
Â
The document discusses Pope Francis' call for a "bold cultural revolution" to combat climate change and consumption-driven lifestyles as outlined in his 2015 encyclical. It summarizes the main points of the encyclical which calls for recognizing the environmental and social crises as interconnected, reducing consumption and inequality, transitioning away from fossil fuels, and taking individual actions like reducing waste and travel. The document advocates for the "sasrai-Movement" which encourages saving resources to address these issues.
Sustainable Development with respect to Population GrowthIrfan Ansari
Â
The document discusses sustainable development with respect to population growth. It notes that meeting future needs depends on balancing social, economic, and environmental factors. Population growth impacts food supply, water availability, climate change, and biodiversity as population grows exponentially while resources grow arithmetically. To promote sustainable development, efforts are needed to slow population growth through improved access to family planning and reproductive health services. This would allow countries to invest in their economies and citizens' living standards while reducing environmental pressures from resource use and consumption. The conclusion stresses that sustainable development requires managing population growth along with other factors like resource conservation and cleaner technologies.
Outlines on environmental philosophy part 6Steven Ghezzo
Â
A study on the environmental issue from historical, anthropological, social, psychological, philosophical, economic, political and juridical perspectives
Ecofeminism examines the connections between the domination and oppression of women and nature. It argues that patriarchal societies treat women and nature in similar ways by exerting unjust dominance. Ecofeminism advocates for equality between genders and respect for all life. It emerged from the environmental and feminist movements of the 1970s-1980s and combines concerns about gender issues and the environment. Ecofeminists believe the liberation of women is connected to preserving nature and life on Earth.
Women face disadvantages related to the environment and natural resources due to traditional gender roles. They spend significant time collecting water, fuel, and farming without secure land rights. This limits their time for other activities and subjects them to health and safety risks. Integrating gender considerations into environmental policies and increasing women's access to resources and decision making can improve environmental sustainability and reduce poverty and hunger.
This letter from a mother to her children discusses important environmental issues and social justice topics. It explains four key forces impacting environmental sustainability: demography, growing demand for natural resources, globalization, and climate change. It also discusses the importance of environmental sociology and defines environmental justice as addressing unequal distribution of environmental benefits and burdens. The letter provides an example of environmental injustice from a book describing toxic pollution negatively impacting the health of families living in poverty near an oil company.
This document discusses the roles of several influential women in environmentalism and sustainable development. It introduces Rachel Carson, known for her book Silent Spring about the impacts of pesticides on nature. Maria Cherkasova is highlighted as a journalist and ecologist in Russia. Vandana Shiva and Wangari Maathai are presented as environmental activists advocating for traditional farming and reforestation, respectively. Medha Patkar and Sugathakumari led important movements involving dams and forest protection in India. Mayilamma protested the environmental impacts of Coca-Cola in her village. Overall the document emphasizes the importance of women's perspectives and participation in environmental issues and development.
The document discusses the complex relationship between child protection systems and poverty. It argues that children from impoverished families are overrepresented in child protection due to both the struggles of parenting in poverty and increased surveillance of poor communities. It critiques how neoliberal policies have contributed to a more punitive approach focused on individual failings rather than structural causes of disadvantage. The document calls for social work to take a more nuanced understanding of poverty, focus on engagement over assessment, and work towards redistribution and community support as part of a new practice paradigm.
Interaction 10 redux
Held at Adaptive Path March 06,2010
Meaningful Innovation Relies on Interaction and Service Design
Keynote presented by Nathan Shedroff
The potential and shortcomings of strategic ambiguity as management practice ...Luca Simeone
Â
This paper explores the role of strategic ambiguity as a management practice, as used in Senseable City Lab - a design-oriented lab located at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA.
Prof. Dr. Akhlas Ahmed gave a lecture at Preston University on July 12th, 2014 about identifying and discussing laws and how to best comply with them while doing what is best for an organization. The lecture covered legal factors, external and internal forces, HR laws and regulations, challenges to legal compliance, and realizing limitations of HR and legal departments. Dr. Ahmed emphasized the importance of determining whether potential business decisions and courses of action are legal, ethical, economical, and practical. Managers should ensure options are legal, ethical, do not unnecessarily hurt stakeholders, are economically feasible given performance goals, and have resources and capabilities for implementation.
This document discusses ethical decision making and resolving ethical dilemmas. It begins by defining ethical behavior and identifying common myths about business ethics. An ethical dilemma is described as a complex situation with no clear right or wrong answer that involves balancing different interests. The document then outlines several approaches for resolving dilemmas, including using utilitarian, rule-based, and care-based thinking. It also discusses the whistleblowing process and provides a 10-step framework for ethical decision making. Finally, the document analyzes different tests that can be applied to potential decisions, such as considering benefits and costs, and whether the action could withstand public scrutiny.
The document discusses ethical decision making and provides a framework for understanding the process. It involves 7 steps: 1) identify the ethical problem, 2) collect relevant information, 3) evaluate the information, 4) consider alternatives, 5) make a decision, 6) act or implement, and 7) review the action. The process applies three ethics theories: utilitarian perspective to maximize good, rights perspective considering people's entitlements, and justice perspective focusing on fairness and rules. Ethical decision making considers various factors like individual traits, organizational culture, and opportunity for ethical or unethical behavior.
Ecopsychology Fosters Sustainable Behavior-Final PaperJason E Evitt
Â
This document discusses how alienation from nature leads to unsustainable behavior and how ecopsychology aims to repair the division between humans and the natural world. It provides examples of how spending time in nature can have positive psychological benefits and healing effects. The document argues that reconnecting with nature through restoring ecosystems and changing education policy could help shift societies toward a new ecological paradigm with healthier relationships between humans and the environment.
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The documentary film "I Am" explores the questions "What's wrong with the world?" and "What can we do about it?" through interviews with intellectuals and leaders. It argues that too much emphasis has been placed on materialism, competitiveness, and a mechanical view of human nature, rather than collaboration, love and compassion. While the film may take some scientific liberties, its overall message is that cultivating interconnectedness and our natural tendencies towards cooperation can make the world a happier place.
Reintegrating humankind and human affairs within the dynamics of the Earth's community of life. Ecologically-enhancing, humanly-fulfilling way of life and thought, driven by the creative intelligence of all people.
Parchment Paper Stationery Set. Writing Paper Hand Stamped EtsyJessica Cotter
Â
Tao Chih Chung, department head of 3M Taiwan, must decide whether to launch a new acne dressing product called Acne Dressing that was developed locally, however the product has not received approval from 3M headquarters due to concerns over intellectual property issues and regulatory approval processes in other markets. Chung has options to either delay launch and seek resources from headquarters to address their concerns, or move forward with a limited local launch while continuing discussions with headquarters. The case analyzes the challenges Chung faces in balancing autonomy as a subsidiary with compliance on intellectual property and regulatory issues across different markets.
Essay On Old Age home - Importance, Advantages, Problems. Helping Elderly Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words. Are Old Age Homes Necessary Essay | www.cintronbeveragegroup.com. Respect old age essay in hindi - Google Docs. Coming of Age: The Hard Truths Untold - Free Essay Example | PapersOwl.com. Old Age and Other Essays: The Evolution of an Idea: Buy Old Age and .... Compare how to poets reflect on old age - GCSE English - Marked by .... (PDF) ESSAY ON AGING AND AGE. The Young Can Teach the Elderly (400 Words) - PHDessay.com. Essays | PDF | Caregiver | Old Age. Essay old age is blessing or curse - cardiacthesis.x.fc2.com. Increase in old age homes essay. âWhat Could Be Done to Improve the Lives of the Elderly Essay Example .... Elderly essays free essays, term papers, research discount. Example age essay. Care for Elderly Free Essay Example. Old Age Home Essay | Essay on Old Age Home for Students and Children in .... Essay on Old Age For Students & Children in English. Reasons for living in old age home. 1 Best Old Age People Essay In Hindi | à€čà€źà€Ÿà€°à„ à€Șà„à€°à€Łà„à€€à€Ÿ: à€Źà„à€à„à€°à„à€ à€Șà€° à€šà€żà€Źà€à€§. Essays Suggesting Solutions to Problems | Old Age | Paragraph | Free 30 .... Age Care Essay | PDF | Elderly Care | Ageing. argumentative essay | Life Expectancy | Old Age. Essay on helping old people. curvelearn.com: GCSE Essay, Analysis of 'Old Age Gets Up', Ted Hughes .... ROEPER CONSULTATION SERVICE: BEYOND OLD AGE: ESSAYS ON LIVING AND DYING. Histories of Old Ages. Essays in Honour of Rhys Jones | Rhys JONES .... Essay on the Problems of Old Age.
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Sociology is the scientific study of human society and social interaction. The document discusses the emergence of sociology in relation to major historical events like the Industrial Revolution and Enlightenment. It also provides examples of social forces studied by sociologists, such as globalization, racial classification, technology, symbolic meanings, and institutions. The study of social forces allows us to better understand how human behavior and relationships are shaped, and find more constructive ways of organizing human activities.
Humans and the environmentLECTURE 1Environment and P.docxsheronlewthwaite
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Humans and the
environment
LECTURE 1
Environment and Policy
Dr Aideen Foley [email protected]
Objective
Explore environmental policy with
an emphasis on the actors and
values that shape it.
Key content
Environmental and social principles
relating to policy-making
Regulatory, market-based and non-
legislative policy tools.
Environmental policy challenges,
successes and failures
Module
overview
1. Humans and the environment
2. Environmental principles
3. Social principles in
environmental policy-making
4. Environmental governance and
participation
5. Fundamentals of sustainability
6. Environmental regulation
7. Environmental issues as market
problems
8. Environment and business
responsibility
9. Climate change policy
10. Climate change ethics
Module
overview
Assessment
2 x 3500 word learning journals.
1 question to consider each week.
Critical thinking is key.
1-5 due by 6pm, November 12th
6-10 due by 6pm, January 14th
Assignment clinics:
Lectures 5 and 10.
Humans and the Environment
How do people âvalueâ the environment?
How do people perceive environmental risk?
Key concepts
âȘ Environmental worldviews
âȘ Cultural Theory of risk
âȘ Political economy of risk
Why does this matter?
If we consider misplaced values and
perceptions as one cause of
environmental problems, we need to
understand theoretical frameworks that
attempt to explain peoplesâ
relationships with the environment in
order to respond to that.
1. Environmental worldviews
Environmental values, like all psychological and social constructs,
are found âwithinâ human individuals, institutions and societies,
and find expression and representation across all human
activities, relationships, and cultural products.
Reser, J.P. and BentrupperbÀumer, J.M., 2005. What and where are environmental values? Assessing the
impacts of current diversity of use of âenvironmentalâand âWorld Heritageâvalues. Journal of Environmental
Psychology, 25(2), pp.125-146.
Ecocentric
The person is not above or
outside of nature. E.g. Deep
ecology, eco-feminism.
Biocentric
Does not distinguish
between humans and other
life on Earth.
Environmental worldviews
Commonly shared beliefs that give groups of people a sense
of how humans should interact with the environment.
Anthropocentric
Humans should manage
Earth's resources for our
own benefit. E.g. Planetary
management, stewardship,
âno-problemâ.
ââŠsowing and planting of trees had to
be regarded as a national duty of
every landowner, in order to stop the
destructive over-exploitation of
natural resourcesâŠâ
John Evelyn (1662), English writer, gardener and diarist
Planetary management
âIt is a well-provisioned ship, this on which we
sail through space. If the bread and beef above
decks seem to grow scarce, we but open a
hatch and there is a new supply, of which
before we never dreamed. And very great
command over the services of other ...
Marthe Cohn was a Jewish French spy who risked her life to gather intelligence for the French resistance during WWII. She infiltrated Nazi Germany using her fluent German and managed to discover key military information. As a result, the French army was able to achieve an important victory. Cohn went on to have a long career as a nurse and nurse anesthetist. She has received numerous honors for her wartime heroism and courageously fights to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive.
This document provides links to resources about organic gardening techniques, urban farming, rainwater harvesting, green roofs, straight vegetable oil vehicles, garden therapy, volunteering on organic farms in Europe, solar energy training, and eco-friendly coffee beans. It discusses how organic gardening technologies can increase plant yields by 400% and provides catalogs and manuals about topics such as city farming, backyard farming, rain gardens, and aquaponics systems. The links provide free information for organic and sustainable living practices.
Ruth Jones, a Christian teacher without a master's degree or administrative experience, was unexpectedly named principal of a struggling inner city elementary school in Grand Rapids, Michigan that was on the verge of closure due to poor academic performance. Through prayer, addressing students' practical needs, and recruiting volunteers, Jones led a dramatic turnaround of the school over 20 years. Test scores and graduation rates increased sharply, and the school now has a waiting list despite originally facing closure. Jones attributes the school's success to aligning herself with God.
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- Researchers have developed a ketone ester that is more potent than coconut oil, but it is very expensive to produce. Coconut oil remains a viable alternative source of ketones. Taking coconut oil may also help with other neurological diseases due to its ability to increase ketone levels and good cholesterol while reducing bad bacteria.
A teacher in Baltimore transformed the lives of students from the slums. In the 1920s, college students evaluated 200 boys from the slums and said they had no chance of success. Twenty-five years later, it was found that 176 of the 180 boys who could be located had achieved success as lawyers, doctors, and businessmen. The professor interviewed each man and they all credited their success to a teacher who had loved and believed in them. When interviewed, the elderly teacher said her simple method was that she loved those boys.
Robert Raikes witnessed the poor conditions of children in Gloucester, England in the late 18th century due to the Industrial Revolution. This inspired him to create the first Sunday school to educate and reform street children. The Sunday school used the Bible as its textbook and proved hugely successful in improving behavior and civic responsibility. Raikes' idea then spread across Britain and to other parts of Europe and America, revolutionizing religious education of children and community outreach efforts of churches. Late in life, Raikes had a profound spiritual experience witnessing a young girl reading the Bible that gave him a new understanding of faith.
The document discusses using Groasis Waterboxx devices to help plant and grow trees in dry environments like the Sahara Desert. It describes how the author and a colleague tried using 10 Waterboxx devices to plant trees in M'hamid, Morocco but their luggage containing the devices was initially lost. They were eventually found and the devices were used to plant tamarisk trees to compare growth with traditional planting methods. The document provides details on how the Waterboxx works, collecting condensation and directing water to tree roots, and hopes the experiment will help increase tree survival rates in the dry climate.
The Groasis Waterboxx is a low-tech device that helps seeds and saplings grow into strong trees in dry environments. It collects and stores rainwater and condensation to slowly water the roots daily. In tests, 88% of trees grown with the Waterboxx survived compared to only 10.5% without it. The inventor believes using this technology could reforest billions of acres and offset humanity's carbon emissions by capturing CO2 in new tree growth.
The document discusses the Groasis Technology, a planting method that uses a Waterboxx and other techniques to plant trees in dry areas with 90% less water. It summarizes that the technology (1) improves soil, maps planting areas, harvests rainfall, and uses the right planting techniques to help trees grow deep roots in the first year to survive independently. It also describes how the technology terraces slopes to harvest and direct rainfall to trees, uses 3D imaging to map ideal planting lines, and a capillary drill to quickly plant thousands of trees per day.
The document describes the Agua, Vida y Naturaleza Project (AVNP) that started in Ecuador in 2012. It is funded by the Dutch COmON Foundation to help small farmers in dry areas by introducing the Groasis Technology, which allows planting in deserts and eroded lands. The technology mimics nature by improving soil, maintaining capillary structures, and using a waterboxx device. The project aims to address issues small farmers face like lack of water, capital, and farming knowledge, in order to help alleviate world hunger and prevent farmers from migrating to cities due to lack of income from farming dry areas.
The document provides planting instructions for using a Waterboxx planting device. It outlines 6 main steps:
1. Preparing the soil by digging holes and adding compost/fertilizer or just watering.
2. Assembling the Waterboxx by placing the wick, mid-plate, lid, and siphons.
3. Preparing plants by pruning roots to encourage deep growth.
4. Planting in holes aligned east-west within the Waterboxx hole.
5. Placing the assembled Waterboxx over the planted area.
6. Watering the plants and filling the Waterboxx for the first time.
This document provides instructions for growing vegetables using the Groasis Waterboxx system. It details recommendations for greenhouse design, soil preparation, planting methods, plant spacing, watering schedules, and pest and disease management. Proper installation and maintenance of the Waterboxx system is emphasized to ensure healthy plant growth and high crop yields. Close monitoring of climate conditions and plant needs is also advised.
The document is a report on the Groasis waterboxx, a device that aims to allow farming without irrigation. It provides an overview of the waterboxx's history and development, describes its components and how it works, reviews testing that has been done, and evaluates its suitability for organic farming. In the conclusion, the report recommends that the cooperative discussed in the document not use the waterboxx yet, as more data is still needed, but could consider conducting their own tests with support from their technical services.
The document summarizes an invention called the Groasis that helps plants survive in arid climates by collecting and storing rainfall to provide steady watering to seedlings. It notes that most rainfall in deserts occurs within one week but is then unavailable, and that the Groasis uses evaporation-proof containers and wicking to deliver water to young plants over longer periods, allowing their roots to develop and access deeper groundwater reserves. Large-scale projects have used the Groasis in countries like Kenya to aid reforestation efforts and combat desertification.
The document summarizes the work of the Sahara Roots Foundation in Morocco and their use of the Groasis Waterboxx to help plant trees and reduce desertification. The Sahara Roots Foundation was established to implement development projects to conserve the Moroccan Sahara through activities like tree planting, irrigation, education, and desert cleaning. They have started using the Groasis Waterboxx, an "intelligent water battery" developed by AquaPro, to improve the survival rate of newly planted trees. The Waterboxx produces and captures water through condensation and rain, allowing trees to be planted in dry areas like rocks and deserts with a 100% success rate.
The document describes the Agua, Vida y Naturaleza Project (AVNP) that started in Ecuador in 2012. It is funded by the Dutch COmON Foundation to help small farmers in dry areas by introducing the Groasis Technology, which allows planting in deserts and eroded lands. The technology mimics nature by improving soil, maintaining capillary structures, and using a waterboxx device. The project aims to address issues small farmers face like lack of water, capital, and farming knowledge, in order to help alleviate world hunger and prevent farmers from migrating to cities.
Groasis Technology is compared to drip irrigation over a 50-year project for a 500-hectare tree plantation. Key financial indicators show that using Groasis Waterboxes results in a higher net present value (NPV) of âŹ26.62 million compared to âŹ21.15 million for drip irrigation, and a slightly higher internal rate of return (IRR) of 22.1% versus 23.4% for drip irrigation. Waterboxx also has a longer payback period of 7 years compared to 5 years for drip irrigation. The document provides assumptions and calculations for costs and revenues for both systems over the 50-year period.
A new technology called the Groasis Waterboxx shows promise for reclaiming desert landscapes and increasing plant survival rates. The simple device regulates temperature and moisture levels around young plants, allowing trees and crops to grow with little watering even in dry conditions. Initial trials in Africa found tree survival rates increased to 88% with the Waterboxx compared to only 10% without it. Researchers in Kenya are optimistic this technology could significantly reduce desertification and help transform the country's deserts into productive, economic areas through increased vegetation.
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Tags: Information Security, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 42001, Artificial Intelligence, GDPR
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1. 1
Reid Smith
Social Sustainability 588
Portland State University
6/3/10
The Self,
Meaning &
Sustainability
âAs the care of nature increasingly becomes an intellectual
concept severed from the joyful experience of the outdoors, you
have to wonder: where will future environmentalists come
from?â (Louv, p. 147)
2. 2
Introduction
In the emerging field of sustainability, many authors identify three âpillars,â or
components, which must be supported in order to achieve sustainable development. These
are the economy, ecology, and society and are referred to as the triple bottom line for
sustainability. Without all three components maintaining the ability of future generations
to access them, as it was defined in the Bruntland Report in 1987, sustainability cannot be
achieved. Just as the three pillars are needed to ensure sustainable development, I propose
that individuals too need to have all three of these aspects within their Selves in order to
feel whole. Only once a person has a whole Self can he or she begin to frame the world from
a different perspective and make more sustainable choices. Moreover, oneâs personal
pursuit of wholeness, or happiness, has a ripple effect in society, which can either promote
or discourage sustainable behaviors from others. Despite the individualistic, consumer
society, it is possible for individuals to take control of their social, ecologic, and economic
Selves and have a positive effect on both sustainable development and personal happiness.
In a sustainable life, oneâs personal sources of meaning come from more than just
individual desires and needs â the economic Self â and begins to derive meaning from
social and ecological Selves.
The Three Selves
In Western culture, the idea of the Self is narrow compared to the perspective from
many other human cultures around the world. According to Naess (1973), western
philosophers have described the Self as being composed of two different parts: the ego and
the social Self. The ego, or what I call the economic Self in this paper, supports an
3. 3
individualâs selfish needs and desires. In highly individualized cultures like in the United
States, people tend to regard the economic Self as the whole Self, or at least the most
important part of the Self. The problem with the economic Self, is that it does not look out
for the needs of other people or the natural world. Ultimately, a life driven only by the
economic Self results in a natural and social environment that no longer supports the
economic Self.
What is frightening is that the individualistic model is quickly becoming adopted by
other parts of the world as the global economy expands. The model of a good life has
become skewed. According to Orr (1992), âWe do not lack for bad role models: the
careerist, the itinerant professional vandal devoid of any sense of place, the yuppie, the
narrow specialist, the intellectual snob. In different ways, these all to common role models
of today lack the capacity to relate their autobiography to the unfolding history of their
time in a meaningful and positive wayâ (Orr, p.86). As society continues to put more value
on the economic Self and its endeavors, many are losing the ecological and social parts of
their Selves, which guide human values. Without the social and ecological self, where will
values be derived from? According to Alasdair MacIntyre (1981), âit is not possible to be
both modern and moral since the fully autonomous self knows no morality other than the
expression of its own desires and principlesâ (MacIntyre, p. 237). The economic Self that is
valued in western culture today is doing exactly that: acting in its own self interest at the
cost of other people and the planet.
The social Self, alternatively, is an individualâs role in society and is critical for
enhancing meaning and happiness in an individualâs life. We all interact with one another
in varying degrees and adhere to societal roles and obligations. People rely heavily on other
4. people for support, learning, love, and death and are not merely made up of selfish desires.
However, in recent years, the social Self has not been cultivated as it used to be because of
the rise of various technological and social transformations, such as the personal vehicle,
the television, and the internet. This has caused people to have fewer acquaintances as
people in the past, and more hours spent alone. David Myers (2003) explains what he calls
the American Paradox, or that despite economic gains, âsince 1957, the number of
Americans who say they are âvery happyâ has declined from 35 to 32 percent. Meanwhile,
the divorce rate has doubled, the teen suicide rate has more than doubled, the violent crime
rate has tripled (even after the recent decline), and more people than ever (especially teens
and young adults) are depressedâ (Myers, p. 206). Clearly, a highly individualized culture
like the United States that focuses heavily on the needs of the economic Self does not
produce happy people or sustainable development (see figure 1 and 2).
4
Also in rapid disappearance since the industrial revolution, the ecological Self, first
identified by Naess in his philosophy of deep ecology, encompasses an individualâs
relationship with the natural world. According to Naess, deep ecology seeks to develop the
ecological self by focusing on deep experience, deep questioning and deep commitment
(Naess, p. 8). These constitute an interconnected system in which each gives rise to and
supports the other in a new worldview that is âan evolving but consistent philosophy of
being, thinking and acting in the world, that embodies ecological wisdom and harmony"
(Naes, p.8). The ecological Self is one that, according to Orr, is derived from contact with
the earth, soil, wildlife, trees and animals and is the substrate that orients adult thought
and behavior to life. âWithout this contact with nature, maturity is spurious, resulting in
childish adults with the worldâs flimsiest identity structuresâ (Orr p. 16). Personal
5. 5
relationships with nature may provide some insight into the way people treat the
environment. That is, disconnection from the natural world may be contributing to our
planetâs destruction and many social problems.
Like the three components of sustainability, the Self is also comprised of economic,
social, and ecological components. Just as with sustainable development, an individual
must cultivate each of the three Selves in order to lead towards a Selfâsustainability, or as
OâBrian (2005) calls it, sustainable happiness. âSustainable happiness is the pursuit of
meaning and happiness that does not have an adverse effect on other people, the natural
world, or the economy for future generations. Sustainable happiness represents another
paradigm shift. It suggests that the human pursuit of happiness has positive and adverse
impacts, locally, and globallyâin the present and far into the futureâ (OâBrian, p. 1). The
challenge is for the human species to take responsibility for how it pursues happiness and
for individuals to recognize the farâreaching impact of everyday decisions and actions.
Losing Touch with the Ecological Self
The problem with western culture is not the lack of knowledge about ecosystem
processes, but a lack of direct interaction with the natural world and a detachment from
the interdependence with it. According to Richard Louv (2005), â80% of Americans live in
metropolitan areas, and many of these areas are severely lacking in park spaceâ (Louv,
p.116). For example, only 30% of Los Angeles residents live within walking distance of a
park, according to the Trust for Public Land. Without contact with natural landscapes
people increasingly have the ability to detach from the natural world and still function in
society via technological improvements such as the computer, TV, and cars. At no other
time in human history could people work entirely from home with a computer, live thirty
6. miles outside of the city and commute to work, or engage in social gossip through the
television like many people do today in the developed world. Researchers at the University
of Maryland found that between 1981 and 2003, children during the typical week lost over
nine hours of discretionary time (that is hours not spent in school, child care, and so forth).
They spent less time in unstructured indoor and outdoor play; computer use doubledâ
(Louv 119). Television remains the most effective thief of time, says Louv. Studies
conducted in association with the Kaiser Family Foundation, released in 2005 and 2006,
found that children between the ages of eight and eighteen years old spend an average of
nearly 6.5 hours a day plugged in electronically. That equals 45 hours a week, more time
than was once considered an adult work week (Louv, p.119).
6
Additionally to staying indoors, when people do venture outside, they increasingly
come into contact with manâmade elements and not natural elements. People no longer feel
the connection with the earth around them, because their senses are no longer receiving
any input from the natural world. According to Orr, âa sense of place requires more direct
contact with the natural aspects of a place with soils landscape and wildlife. This sense is
lost as we move down the continuum toward the totalized urban environment where
nature exists in tiny, isolated fragments by permission onlyâ (Orr, p. 89). It is a âsense of
placeâ that fosters an individualâs care for the natural world around them because they feel
connected to the land personally. Without an orientation to a specific place, everywhere
just becomes space that is open for our use and not any better or worse than any other
space of land. According to Orr, âIntimate knowledge of our landscapes is rapidly
disappearing and can only impoverish our mental landscapes. People who do not know the
ground on which they stand miss one of the elements of good thinking, which is the
7. 7
capacity to distinguish between health and disease in natural systems and their relation to
health and disease in human onesâ (Orr, p. 86). If human mental capacities are hindered
because of a lack of understanding of natural processes, it is clear that humans need to
understand nature in order to understand themselves.
With so much more time being spent indoors and less time in nature, children in
most areas of the developed world and an increasing number in the developing world are
not establishing a relationship with the natural world at all and have no sense of place.
Their ecological Selves never form. Instead of developing a healthy reciprocal relationship
in which nature can offer children a sense of wonder, complexity, and humility, they learn
to fear nature as something that could harm them, detach from it in order to deal with the
immense scope of human damage, or see it as something that humans in the past had to
deal with and is no longer important. According to Orr, âthe young of our advanced society
are increasingly shaped by the shopping mall, the freeway, the television, and the
computer. They regard nature, if they see it at all, as through a rearview mirror receding in
the haze. We should not be astonished, then, to discover rates of ecological literacy in
decline, at the very time that literacy is most neededâ (Orr, p. 105). Orr uses the term,
ecological literacy, to mean someone who is in touch with their ecological Self and is
therefore able to see the value of the natural world and their relation to it. âUltimately, it
[ecological literacy] is a tradition built on a view of ourselves as finite and fallible creature
living in a world limited by natural lawsâ (Orr, p. 95).
Loss of Ecological Self and Health
With both the ecological and social Selves on decline in the developing world,
society today has several direct problems as a result including climate change, huge global
8. 8
inequities, and human health concerns. The most pressing issue is human health. It seems
that right when people start to become disconnected from the land, natureâs curative
effects start to become apparent. Mentalâhealth pioneer Dr. Benjamin Rush â who was a
signer of the Declaration of Independence â declared over two hundred years ago that,
âdigging in the soil has a curative effect on the mentally illâ (Louv, p. 45). Likewise,
beginning in the 1870s, the Quakersâ Friends Hospital in Pennsylvania used natural
landscape and greenhouses as part of its treatment of mental illness. During World War II,
psychiatry pioneer Carl Menninger led a horticulture therapy movement in the Veterans
Administration Hospital System. In the 1950âs, a wider movement began to emerge, one
that recognized the therapeutic benefits of gardening for people with chronic illnesses
(Louv, p. 45). During the 1990s, holistic thinkers known as ecopsychologists began
exploring the idea that contemporary industrialized urban living erodes the ecologically
connected sense of Self with which humans are born, leaving them psychologically
distressed (Roszak et al., 1995). The evidence for the therapeutic value of human
interaction with green space is persuasive.
In addition to therapy, nature could be used to combat some modern diseases, such
as obesity. Nature has seldom shown up in literature on child obesity although it has
traditionally provided hours and hours of âexerciseâ for children. Louv argues, âplaytime â
especially unstructured, imaginative, exploratory play â is increasingly recognized as an
essential component of wholesome child developmentâ (Louv, p. 48). Research findings on
outdoor play show that nature also has specific health benefits. According to Louv, âplay in
natural settings seems to offer special benefits. For one, children are more physically active
when they are outside â a boon at a time of sedentary lifestyles and epidemic overweightâ
9. 9
(Louv, p.48). Increased time outdoors inevitably increases the amount of time kids are
swinging on trees, running through fields, or swimming in a lake, which lead to healthier
adults.
In addition to helping child obesity, nature is also shown to help children with some
mental diseases, such as anxiety, depression and ADHD. âNew evidence suggests that the
need for medication is intensified by childrenâs disconnection from nature. Nature
experiences can relieve some of the everyday pressures that may lead to childhood
depressionâ (Louv, p. 50). If it is true that nature therapy reduces the symptoms of
depression and ADHD, then the converse may also be true: ADHD may be a set of
symptoms aggravated by lack of exposure to nature. Many children may benefit from
medication, but the real disorder is less in the child than it is in the artificial, manâmade
environment they grew up in. As Louv suggests, âto take nature and natural play away from
children may be tantamount to withholding oxygenâ (Louv, p. 109). Clearly, children need
time for natural play and exploration in order to enhance their relationship with nature.
Nature and Meaning
In addition to childhood mental disorders, nature may also help adults with
debilitating lifestyle choices derived from a lack of meaning. Because the ecological Self is
an integral pillar to oneâs whole Self, enhancing a personal connection with nature also
enhances a personâs whole Self. An individual who is whole is more capable of making
sustainable choices because he or she does not have to rely on any outside systems â which
could be unsustainable â to find meaning. For example, people cling to consumer culture
because it is a reliable source of meaning and happiness, despite its unsustainable social
and ecological implications. According to Juliet Schor, people get locked into a consumer
10. culture because of the demands of individuals to keep up with escalating consumption
norms of society. âThe average American now finds it harder to achieve a satisfying
standard of living than 25 years ago. Work requires longer hours, jobs are less secure, and
pressures to spend more intense. Consumptionâinduced environmental damage remains
pervasive, and we are in the midst of widespread failures of public provisionâ (Schor, p. 2).
Keeping up with the necessities of such inflated standards of living are causing people to
live beyond their means and focus more of their time trying to make money to buy more
things. Schor suggests that the economic boom has subdued consumersâ fears for the
moment, but that many still have longâterm worries about meeting the needs of themselves
and their families in the future (Schor). Due to preoccupation with the economic Self,
people do not have enough time to cultivate the ecological and social Selves.
A primary cause for consumer behavior may be an individualâs effort to replace the
longâlost ecological and social Selves as sources of meaning. A highly developed ecological
Self within a whole Self can be an abundant source of meaning for people throughout their
lives. According to Louv, âThrough nature, the species is introduced to transcendence, in
the sense that there is something more going on than the individual. Most people are either
awaked to or are strengthened in their spiritual journey by experiences in the natural
worldâ (Louv, p. 302). Clearly, becoming more ecologically literate will help us to live more
personally meaningful lives.
10
Victor Franklâs meaningâcentered philosophy offers a good framework for
understanding how the personal search for meaning leads to a certain perception of the
Self, which dictates our choices and behaviors. Frankl (1959) proposed that people make
the choices they make because they are searching for meaning in their lives, and not
11. searching for pleasure as Freud suggested, or for power as Nietzsche proposed. Frankl
argued that the neurosis of the present generation is meaninglessness. âEver more people
today have the means to live, but no meaning to live forâ (Frankl, p. 133). Frankl noted that
the modern person has almost too much freedom and is no longer guided through nature
instinct or cultural tradition. This âexistential vacuumâ is compensated with âthe urge for
money, sex, entertainment, even violenceâ (Frankl, p. 135). The emptiness humans feel,
because of our disconnection from nature and cultural tradition, results in a stronger
emphasis on the economic Self as a source of meaning. Humans are not open to various
sources of meaning and it is this search for meaning that dictates our decisions.
Filling the Meaning Bucket
A useful metaphor for the fulfillment of the Self is something that I call the meaning
bucket. Picture the Self as a bucket and that the goal of this Selfâbucket is to be filled with
meaning, happiness and a full life. If the bucket is full of meaning, the individual feels
satisfied and whole. If the bucket is not full, like it is at the beginning of each day, we have
to fill our buckets with meaning. Throughout human history and in other human cultures
around, people filled their Selfâbuckets with meaning derived from the natural world, their
social networks and interactions, and the individual pursuit of oneâs own desires. However,
as the ecological and social Selves have deteriorated and become detached from the
modern world, people are no longer able to derive any meaning from those sources. The
resulting effect is that people now have to fill their entire bucket with meaning from the
economic Self. In pursuit of meaning, because we have limited our sources of meaning to
only economic pursuits, we highly exploit our own selfish desires. Consumerism and other
social neuroses have become commonâplace because people need more and more of their
11
12. 12
own desires to replace the lost intrinsic meaning that was once derived from close social
groups and nature. Maiteny (2002) suggests that modern humans appear to have a
predisposition towards consumerism that is deeply rooted in our psyches. Furthermore,
Maiteny suggests that the relentless pursuit of material wealth and goods may well be a
response to the anxiety often experienced in pursuit of wellâbeing, or happiness.
The Self and Panarchy
A useful tool for understanding how a limited scope of individual sources of
meaning is the cause for meaninglessness and unsustainability is through the concept of
panarchy. Just as cycles of collapse and regeneration occur in ecological and social systems,
the Self can also be understood in the panarchy model. According to C. S. Holling (2001),
âadequate performance of ecosystem function depends on having all the necessary
functional groups present. The persistence of ecosystem function over time (the resilience
of ecosystem function) depends on the diversity of species within the functional groupâ
(Holling, p.401). Applied to the Self, a variety of personal sources of meaning is more
resilient than an individual that relies on just one of the Selves for all of their meaning. For
example, in the recent economic downturn, an individual who knows how to derive
meaning from their economic, ecological, and social Selves is more able to maintain a
meaningful life than those individuals who relied entirely on their economic Selves and
now have lost all purpose and direction in life. People with strong ecological and social
Selves are less troubled by the downturn because economic troubles only cultivate one
aspect of their whole Self. In fact, the economic downturn has been a blessing for the
ecological and social Selves because now people have no choice but to use less and help
each other out more.
13. 13
In addition to the ecologic and social Selves providing a variety of sources of
meaning, the panarchy model is a good template to understand how the Self relates to
larger and more complex structures that govern human lives. The individual Self is at a low
level, or quick adaptive cycle in the panarchy model compared to larger, slower cycle
adaptive cycles. Because of the ability of lower level adaptive cycles to affect larger cycles,
individual pursuits of meaning and happiness have both positive and negative
consequences on the rest of the levels of the adaptive cycle. âIn a globalized world, policies
and behaviors have repercussions on distant lands and people. Some impacts are
immediate and shortâterm while some have enduring effectsâ (Oâbrian, p. 2). Conversely,
decisions made at larger levels can have an impact on lower levels, or the Self. Clearly, it is
important for individuals to understand their place in relation to larger and more complex
cycles because individuals are impacted by and can have an impact on larger systems by
changing individual behavior. Therefore, an understanding of the whole Self is critical for
understand how to change larger cycles, such as global economic policies and climate
change. According to Holling, âwith large threats such as climate change, water shortage,
and terrorism, societies can become more resilient to such threats. Human systems with
foresight that stabilize variability and exploit opportunity can avoid collapse within the
panarchy modelâ (Holling, p. 403). It is possible for individuals and society to incorporate
sustainability principles to move towards a sustainable society. To begin to shift towards a
more resilient society, it is critical that people become responsible for their behaviors by
developing a new appreciation for all three Selves.
Other Human Cultures and the Self
14. 14
Despite how most modern, urban people have forgotten how to derive meaning
from ecological and social sources, people can learn how to cultivate all three Selves once
again. Luckily, there are many examples of human cultures on the earth today that have
lived sustainably for thousands of years and have strongly incorporated the natural and
social systems into their cultures and ideas of the Self. These cultures offer tips for our
culture about how to live sustainably. From Orrâs perspective, âthe study of other cultures
offers a tantalizing glimpse of how culture can be linked to nature through ritual, myth, and
social organization. Our alienation from the natural world is unprecedented. Healing this
division is a large part of the difference between survival and extinctionâ (Orr, p. 17). The
level of an individualâs environmental and social concern is directly related to the degree
with which individuals see themselves as a part of the natural world. According to
Elizabeth Nisbet, John Zelenski, and Steven Murphy, an ecological identity that includes the
economic Self, the human community, and the planetâs ecosystems will lead people to view
damage to the planet as damage to the Self (Nisbet et al., p.17). This ties into many other
human cultures that treat the world with care and teach their children not to separate
themselves from nature.
For example, in Okanagan Native American culture, they regard the individual as
only able to actualize his or her full human potential only as the result of physical,
emotional, intellectual, and spiritual wellâbeing. According to Jeannette Armstrong (2005),
âeach person is one element of a transâgenerational organism known as a family. Through
this organism flows the powerful lifeblood of cultural transference designed to secure the
highest probability of wellâbeing for each generationâ (Armstrong, p. 13). The idea of
community in Okanagan culture encompassed a complex holistic view of
15. interconnectedness that demanded humans to be responsible for everything they are
connected to, including the natural world, and the generations that come before and after.
15
In keeping with the wisdom of many other human cultures, many deep ecologists
and other ecological and social philosophers are starting to integrate the idea that there is
no distinction between the Self and the rest of the natural world. According to Orr, âwe can
make no absolute distinctions between the self and the world. Treating others as we would
have them treat us isnât just good for them, itâs also in our own selfâinterest. Goodness,
mercy, justice and ecological prudence have both survival value and spiritual rewards.â
(Orr, p. 38). The value of seeing the Self as part of everything is that it causes people to see
themselves as part of the web of life and not above it with the power to control it. This
humility is integral for development of the ecological Self and is integrated into many other
human cultures. For example, according to Malcome Margolin (2005),
Built into California Indiansâ traditional teaching methods, and indeed their
overall philosophy, is something that I find heartbreakingly beautiful â a
sense of humility: a sense that the world is far bigger, more complex, and
more mysterious than the human mind can ever encompass, and that to be a
full human being you need to learn to live with ambiguity and tolerance for
the unknown. The alternative is to live with brittle delusions of certainty.
(Margolin, p. 75)
Nature opens the Self up to the vast complexities of the universe, which is both a humbling
and nurturing process at the same time. There is a system more powerful and complex than
any human can understand; but that this system takes care of us and we are a part.
The Ecological Self and the Impact on Sustainable Development
Given that nature provides humans with the ability to fulfill their whole Selves, it is
critically important for local and national developers to understand the value of nature in
planning. As more and more people move to cities, the development of sustainable cities is
16. central to moving humanity towards sustainability. Preserving islands of wild land â parks
and preserves â in urban areas is not enough. According to Louv,
16
A healthy urban environment requires natural corridors for movement and
genetic diversity. One can imagine such theory applied to entire urban
regions, with natural corridors for wildlife extending deep into urban
territory and the urban psyche, creating an entirely different environment in
which children would grow up and adults could grow old where the nature
deficit is replaced by natural abundance. (Louv, p. 247)
This type of development is possible if all members of society begin to see the value in firstâhand
interaction with nature once again.
In addition to enhancing only the ecological Self, parks and other urban green
spaces generally build social cohesion. According to The Trust for Public Land, âaccess to
public parks and recreational facilities has been strongly linked to reduction in crime and
in particular to reduced juvenile delinquencyâ (Louv, p. 179). Community gardeners also
routinely site that one of the major benefits of being a part of the garden is that it provides
social interaction, which is a key attribute in building or reâbuilding a community (Vogl,
2003). In a study that aimed to connect how close people are with nature with
environmental behavior found that ânatureârelated (NR) people reported spending more
time outdoors and in the natural environment. Those higher in NR reported more
environmental concern and endorsement of proâenvironmental attitudes as well as more
selfâreported environmental behaviorâ (Nisbet, p.20). Therefore, higher levels of personal
contact with nature were predictive of ecological perspective, as well as strong views about
the seriousness of ecological problems and human treatment of the environment. If cities
and governments are serious about environmental concerns such as global warming and
species extinction, getting people in closer contact with nature could be the best way to
gain support.
17. 17
If embracing the connection to nature makes an individualâs life richer and more
meaningful, becoming more in touch with the ecological Self may make humans happier. As
individuals become more related to nature, they may feel more positive emotions. This
sense of wellâbeing they experience could then result in more proâenvironmental
behaviors. Nisbet et al. argues, âif people feel good about their natural environment, value
and care about it, they might behave in ways that respect and protect it (Nisbet et al., p. 22).
If people fully understand their connection to nature they may develop more empathy for
all living creatures and the planet. As humans strive to find the solutions to environmental
problems, we may find that in healing the planet, we may also be able to restore or improve
human mental health and vice versa. According to Nisbet et al., âA selfâconcept that includes
the natural world, a biospheric orientation, may provide a motivational force toward
nature protection and preservation.â (Nisbet et al., p. 23). Protection of nature protects the
valuable sources that humans rely on, which benefits all people and societies.
Conclusion
The ecological and social crises that plague the world today are in large part a
perceptual crisis. Ordinary human beings simply do not see that they are part of a delicate
web of life and that their own actions are destructive. According to Ophuls, âany viable
solution to this crisis will require them [humans] to see that they are part of the web of
life.â (Ophuls p. 222) Therefore, in order to achieve sustainability, humans will require a
psychological shift in thinking about oneâs place on the earth. This will fundamentally
18. reshape peopleâs worldviews, motivators, and metrics. Because human behavior is the
primary source of ecological damage, it is time that psychological and human philosophical
experts start contributing to the sustainable development discussion. If tomorrowâs leaders
are better educated about human behavior, the needs of the Self, and the pursuit for
meaning, the ultimate benefit will be to the Earth and all of its inhabitants.
18
Figures
Figure 1: (Myers)
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21
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