Sustainability Freshman Inquiry Feb. 17, 2010 Jeff Fletcher

Logistics PSU Recycles Service Project –Today HW 3, Adam will collect in mentor session –Meet 1:00 pm this Sunday (2/21) in Ondine Lobby Opportunities for study abroad—see daily log Read your chapter for next Monday (2/22) (Take Notes! Not just on what Diamond says, but on your own views and questions) Next Monday (2/22) we will go to Library (Room 160). Please be on time.

Question What typical course of events do people usually think of in a collapse?

Possible Answers (p. 6) Population growth forced people to adopt intensified means of agricultural production (irrigation, double- cropping, or terracing), and to expand farming onto marginal lands, Unsustainable practices led to environmental damage, Marginal lands had to be abandoned. Consequences: –food shortages, –starvation, – wars over resources, –overthrows of governing elites by disillusioned masses. –Population decrease through starvation, war or disease. –Society lost political, economic, and cultural complexity it had developed at the peak.

Question According to Diamond, in addition to the 5 point framework for understanding collapse, what 4 new environmental problems face us today?

Possible Answers According to Diamond, in addition to the 5 point framework for understanding collapse, what 4 new environmental problems face us today? (p. 7) –Human caused climate change –Buildup of toxic chemicals in the environment –Energy shortages –Full utilization of the Earth’s photosynthetic capacity

Question Explain how the following factors not only lower, but increase risk of collapse for modern societies: –Powerful technology –Globalization –Modern medicine

Possible Answers (p. 8) Powerful technology –solve problems –have un-intended destructive effects Globalization –Disaster relief –Collapse anywhere affects here at home –Disease travels quickly Modern medicine –Cures or prevents disease –many people depend on it for their survival

Collapse Ch. 1: Montana You will have ~15 minutes to prepare a 3 minute presentation on a section of Ch. 1 1.Montana's Economic History. pg. 27-mid 35 2.Mining. pg. 35-top 41 3.Forests. pg. 41-top 47 4.Soil. pg Water pg Native & Non-native. pg Differing Visions. pg. 56-lower 63 8.Attitudes towards regulation. pg Stories. pg

Your Brief Presentation A short presentation that identifies the important messages (or key ideas) of that section of Chapter 1. A "Visual" that illustrates the key ideas (poster paper and markers provided). –Be sure each team members name appears on the visual and hand in at the end Answers questions from Jeff, Adam, Andrew and the Class about your section.