ES101 9/9/10 Env. Ethics & History of the Environmental Movement PUT YOUR SECTION NUMBER ON YOUR ASSIGNMENT! &, turn reading questions up front now, OR, if class has begun, turn them in at end of lecture. If today is your first day with a clicker, press “GO” (or “Ch”), then “4,” then “1,” then “GO.” You should see a green light. See me after class if you have questions. Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir, Yosemite Valley CA

ES101 9/9/10 To be sure your clicker is communicating with the computer: when you answer a question, hold down the button until you see the green light. if you see a green light you are all set. see me at the end of class if you have questions. Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir, Yosemite Valley CA

Environmental Ethics Anthropocentric ethic: Human-centered= Environment exists for human use, humans can use it any way we want Biocentric ethic: Life-centered = Env. exists for all life forms, must treat the earth so all life can continue Ecocentric ethic: Earth (home) – centered: Env. is a complex set of interacting living and non-living systems, must value all of it

The History of the Environmental Movement has Four Distinct Stages: 1.Utilitarian Resource Conservation 2.Biocentric Nature Preservation 3.Modern Environmentalism 4.Global Environmental Citizenship

Beginning of the env. movement 1864: George Perkins Marsh writes Man and Nature, about soil erosion, excessive cutting and destruction Argued for responsible stewardship of forests and wilderness preservation

1. Utilitarian Resource Conservation Started by President Theodore Roosevelt, and Forest Service head Gifford Pinchot. Utilitarian = usefulness -  USE natural resources for humans, but do it carefully! Should be used for “the greatest good for the greatest number, for the longest time.” What kind of env. ethic is this? Anthropocentric

Gifford Pinchot ( ) First head of US Forest Service Taught how to “manage resources” so they would last Conserve the forests, soil, don’t cut too fast or too much Understood that humans depended on the natural world for survival!

2. Biocentric Nature Preservation John Muir, first president of the Sierra Club, opposed Pinchot’s utilitarian policies. Biocentric ethic – why? Believed we should protect nature because all organisms have a moral right to exist Believed that wilderness provided aesthetic beauty and spiritual renewal for humans Anthropocentric too!

John Muir Naturalist, writer Wrote passionately about the beauty of wilderness Convinced Congress to make Yosemite Valley, CA a national park

John Muir Naturalist, writer Wrote passionately about the beauty of wilderness Convinced Congress to make Yosemite Valley, CA a national park Fought against the Hetch- Hetchy dam – water for San Francisco Gifford Pinchot favored the dam

Hetch Hetchy Reservoir – provides water for San Fran. reveals anthropocentric/biocentric tension which is a better use of this land? Before Flooding images/hetch_hetchy_reservoir.jpg After Flooding (1924)

Aldo Leopold ( ) Scientist, forester, wildlife manager First to promote the “Ecocentric” viewpoint Writings had huge influence on 20 th century scientists A Sand County Almanac “Round River” essay

The Round River Parable of a “Round River” Land is a living organism – everything is connected to everything else “Land community” = humans + animals + plants + soil + air + water, etc. All parts are essential, humans can’t see themselves as separate and special Education must look at the big picture Value of nature is more than economic ($) Need to develop stronger env. ethics

The statement that “all organisms have a right to exist, and, besides, nature has aesthetic value for humans” is based on... 1.an anthropocentric ethic 2.a biocentric ethic 3.an ecocentric ethic 4.both 1 and 2 5.both 2 and 3

Which do you think most accurately describes the specific effects of DDT on the environment? 1.Beneficial: DDT kills disease carrying mosquitoes. 2.Negative: DDT causes thinning in the egg shells of birds so it reduces reproduction. 3.Negative: it is a leading cause of cancer in humans.

3. Modern Environmentalism Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring (1962) started the modern environmental movement. - awakened the public to threats of pollution and toxic chemicals to all species

Rachel Carson ( ) Scientist, writer Book Silent Spring exposed the terrible effects of pesticides She was denounced by the chemical industry

Which do you think most accurately describes the specific effects of DDT on the environment? 1.Beneficial: DDT kills disease carrying mosquitoes. 2.Negative: DDT causes thinning in the egg shells of birds so it reduces reproduction. 3.Negative: it is a leading cause of cancer in humans.

3. Modern Environmentalism Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring (1962) started the modern environmental movement. - awakened the public to threats of pollution and toxic chemicals to all species - modern environmentalism extends concerns to include both natural resources and environmental pollution.

3. Modern Environmentalism 1969 Env. Protection Agency created 1970 First Earth Day 1973 Endangered Species Act passed 1978 Toxic Sites (Love Canal) 21,000 tons of toxic waste buried beneath a neighborhood near Niagara Falls

4. Global Environmental Citizenship View of earth from space – Apollo 17 (1972) - powerful image! Global problems were recognized: Depletion of ozone layer; 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident Increased travel and communication enables people to know about daily events everywhere

4. Global Environmental Citizenship Global environmentalism is the recognition that we share one environment Social justice issues included – sharing of resources is critical for sustainable future

Clickers and Attendance If you don’t have a clicker, write your name and section number on a piece of paper and turn it in at the end of lecture so you won’t be marked absent. If you’re waiting for a clicker you’ve ordered, let your lab instructor know. Once you register your clicker with your lab instructor, if you forget to bring it to lecture: –you can get credit for being here by turning in your name and section number. –you cannot get the 3 pts for lecture attendance.