Geography for Life Day 6

Starter – Take a guess! What is a fossil fuel? Where do fossil fuels come from? What countries provide most of our oil and gas (like for cars)? What percentage of the Earth’s water is fresh (non-salty)?

Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels Overview of Fossil Fuels

Distribution of FOSSIL Fuels

Fracking Video What is Fracking - HowStuffWorks Fracking explained: opportunity or danger

Culture The ideas, beliefs, and values that make up a group’s traditions. Things like language, religion, and ethnicity. Example: Mormonism in Utah Example: Latinos in Central and South America

Environmental Determinism Cultural Ecology shapes Environmental Determinism determines Possiblism influences

Cultural Ecology Environment shapes culture and development How people use and adapt to the environment and how the environment influences the development of your culture (religion, warfare, etiquette, clothing styles, etc.) Example: Hindu culture worships the cow because the people of that region have relied on cows for milk and cultivation and so it incorporated the worship of the cow into their culture.

Article: What is Cultural Ecology?

Environmental Determinism Old theory of geography Environment determines culture and development The environment controls what you eat, whether you become rich or poor, if you develop technology, etc. Example: Temperate climate of Europe produced better health conditions and lower death rates than other parts of the world and so the standard of living improved

Possibilism Theory used by modern geographers The physical environment may set limits on human actions, but people have the ability to adjust to it and choose a course of action from many alternatives. Can use environment as a collection of resources, and then choose to use and develop. Example: People can learn about crops – what grows best in what climates, and then choose to grow crops are that are compatible with their environment

Environmental Determinism Cultural Ecology How humans interact with the environment Environmental Determinism The local environment determines how humans will develop their society (culture, technology, etc.) NO FREE WILL Possiblism The local environment influences how humans will develop their society (culture, technology, etc.) but does not determine! ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!