Deck 20: B: Challenges to the Global Environment

Question 1

Discuss the differences and similarities between bioprospecting and biopiracy and how both of these are related to biocolonialism.

Answer 1

Answers will vary but should include the idea of bioprospecting as the exploitation of the poor by companies,and biopiracy as the unauthorized appropriation of traditional biological and genetic knowledge.As well,these two lead to biocolonialism,which is the development of a dominant-submissive relationship between the corporations and the farmers.Interest by ecofeminists should be included.

Question 2

Environmental racism is a particular touchy issue,as large corporations from industrialized nations do not wish to be seen as not doing their part in cleaning up the environment.However,it remains a concern as businesses try to find other locations to dump their toxic waste.Discuss the implications of environmental racism as it relates to Robert Bullard's research and Houston neighbourhoods.

Answer 2

Answers will vary but should include the idea that some neighbourhoods are better than others.The idea that ethnic minorities deserve polluted neighbourhoods should also be raised.
Bullard found that in Houston,and across the United States,toxic waste facilities were more likely to be located in areas with large black and Hispanic populations.In fact,he found that all city-owned landfills in Houston were in black neighbourhoods,even though blacks made up only 25 percent of the city's population.Further,three out of four privately owned landfills were also in predominantly black neighbourhoods,as were six out of eight city-owned incinerators.Houston had no formal zoning regulations at the time,which allowed local government officials to put the waste sites wherever they wanted.

Question 3

Compare and contrast the treadmill of production theory and ecological modernization theory.

Answer 3

Answers will vary,but should include the following: For the treadmill of production theory-the concepts that capitalism drives decision-making when it comes to environmental issues,a negative picture of the future,the idea of a treadmill as being a continuous form of environmental disregard and that the theory was not politically popular.Ecological modernization theory should include a more optimistic view of the future,a more sustainable development perspective.However,it should also include the displacement of small organic producers with industrial farms.

Question 4

What is a company doing when it is engaging in "bioprospecting"?

Question 5

According to the United Nations report entitled Our Common Future,what are the two key concepts that are contained within the notion of sustainable development?

Question 6

Explain the human‒nature relationship in terms of anthropocentrism.

Question 7

Explain ecological modernization theory and provide an example.
What is the general argument of ecofeminism?

Question 8

Explain the development of the human exemptionalism paradigm and its progression toward an ecocentric view.

Question 9

Discuss some of the specific impacts of climate change on Canada.

Question 10

How are ecosystem diversity,species diversity,and genetic diversity related? Explain using a deep ecology approach.

Question 11

What are the three central impacts of climate change on biodiversity,as identified by biologists?

Question 12

Define environmental racism and provide one example.

Question 13

Discuss the three different levels of biodiversity and their effects on human ecosystems.

Question 14

Discuss the differences between the dominant social paradigm and the alternative environmental paradigm and how they led to sustainable development.Include one example of sustainable development.