1. Land Ethics: A Case Study
Aldo Leopold, Tragedy of the Commons, & The Lorax

2. Ethics What are they? Standards of right/wrong
Statements of what humans ought to do in terms of rights, obligations, benefits to society, fairness, or specific virtues.
Enjoined with virtues of honesty, compassion, and loyalty.

3. Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic
Yale University
US Forest Service
Urged that nature should be included in our ethical concerns
“A Sand County Almanac” (pub. 1949)
Formed beliefs of the modern Environmental Wisdom worldview

4. Leopold’s Quotes
“The land ethic simply enlarges the boundaries of the community to include soils, waters, plants, and animals, or collectively the land…In short a land ethic changes the role of Homo sapiens from conqueror of the land-community to a plain member and citizen of it.”

5. Leopold’s Quotes
“We abuse land because we view it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.”

6. Tragedy of the Commons Garrett Hardin (1968) Biologist
Overuse of common property or free-access resources
Examples
Clean air
Open ocean/fish
Wildlife species
Publicly owned land (NP, NF, WR)
Common User quotes
“If I don’t use it, someone else will!”
“The little I use doesn’t matter…and these resources are renewable.”

7. Tragedy of the Commons Solutions???
1. Using commons at rates below their sustainable yield
Reducing population
Limiting access
2. Convert common land/resources to private ownership
Private owners may protect their resources
Not practical for global resources (air, open ocean)
3. Set up rules to regulate/share access

8. The Lorax (1971)
Children’s literature book by Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss)
One of many books by Dr. Suess that spoke to environmental or political issues
Main characters
The Once-ler
The Lorax

9. The Lorax (1971) Homework Response: Sustainability and the Lorax
How do events in the Lorax mirror the concepts we’ve learned so far in Ch 1 & 2?
Include as many applicable terms/concepts as possible.
Explain the connection between the film and your objectives
1 page max
Due Friday 9/12/08