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Required Text The following required texts are available at the University Bookstore: Gelbspan, Ross. The Heat is On: The Climate Crisis, The Cover-Up, The Prescription. Reading, Mass.: Perseus Books, 1998. Gibbs, Lois Marie. Love Canal: The Story Continues. Stony Creek, Conn.: New Society Publishers, 1998. Mann, Charles C. and Mark L. Plummer. Noah's Choice: The Future of Endangered Species. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1995. Ray, Dixy Lee with Lou Guzzo. Environmental Overkill: Whatever Happened to Common Sense? New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1994. Additional Required Reading In addition to the above texts, numerous chapters and articles as noted in the course schedule will form the basis of various class discussions throughout the term. In an effort to conserve your textbook costs I am not requiring that you purchase these items. However you are still responsible for each of these readings. Copies of each item are on reserve at the campus library. Course Description Environmental issues encompass perhaps the most challenging set of policy problems for the 21st century. Our environment involves complex, often scientifically ambiguous relationships, specifically in terms of the cause-effect connections that are the underlying target of all policymaking attempts. These are highly contentious issues, with powerfully embedded personal values at stake. At times, environmental concerns clash directly with economic considerations, creating deep divisions in our body politic. Yet, at the same time our environment is by definition a unifying force as well, displaying a remarkable tendency to bring divergent regions and political agendas together as one. This course explores the tensions between environmental conservation and economic development by looking at several key policy issues the United States now faces. We will uncover the fundamental obstacles to effective environmental policymaking regarding these issues – and outline policymaking strategies which may overcome these key obstacles. As a general aside, let me also note that this course is essentially a contract between teacher and student. My job is to do my best to help you learn. Please let me know if anything in class hampers this. Students are encouraged to come to my office hours to ask questions or make suggestions. Your side of the agreement is to do your best to learn. Coming to class prepared -- doing the reading before class and taking notes on that reading. Attendance and participation in class are expected. Material discussed in class (and not necessarily in the readings) will appear on exams and other assignments. Participation will play a key role in determining final grades, especially border-line cases. Current Events Journal and Reflective Journal: There is both an oral and written component to the current events journal. Twice during the term I will collect your journals for evaluation. Five article entries are due on each of these days with at least one page of analysis per entry. Thus, over the course of the semester we will each read AND analyze ten separate articles. Of course, grammar and writing style are also important. Also, note that once during the semester you will be expected to give a short (5 minutes) oral presentation on one of your journal entries. Please see the attached handout for additional information. Reflective Journals are a weekly assignment (Mondays) of approximately 1-2 pages. See the attached handout for more detailed information. Grading Policy: Grading is based upon the standard +/- system below: A
= 93 % and above You are responsible for turning in assignments on time. Late assignments are docked one letter grade for each day after the due date. In other words an A quality journal which is one day late receives a B. Make-up tests are not given, except under approved, extenuating circumstances, i.e. illness, death in the family, religious holiday. In these cases the instructor must be informed prior to the exam. Grading Distribution: Participation20% Reflective Journal 20% Current Events Journal15% Policy Paper20% Final Exam25% Tentative Course Schedule: Dates / Topics and Reading Assignments April 28th Introduction April 29th The Nature of Environmental Issues Carson, Rachel. Silent Spring Introduction by Al Gore Chpt.1: A Fable for Tomorrow Chpt.2: The Obligation to Endure Chpt.3: Elixirs of Death O'Rourke, P.J. All the Trouble in the World: The Lighter Side of Overpopulation, Famine, Ecological Disaster, Ethnic Hatred, Plague and Poverty Chpt.6 Saving the Earth: We're All Going to Die Anyway April 30th Historical Framework: Origins and Values Leopold, Aldo. A Sand County Almanac: And Sketches Here and There Forward The Land Ethic Wilson, E.O. Naturalist. Chpt.18: Biodiversity, Biophilia Lovelock, J.E. GAIA: A New Look at Life on Earth Introductory Gaia and Man: The Problem of Pollution Film: The Life of Rachel Carson May 3rd – 7th The Political Process: the Executive, Congress, Judiciary, Regulation and the EPA Cohen, Richard E. Washington at Work: Back Rooms and Clean Air Chpt.1: Its Tough to Get Things Done Ray, Environmental Overkill Part 4: Rules and More Rules Part 5: Communication, Education and Politics Gibbs, Love Canal Prologue Introduction Chpt.1: The Problem at Love Canal Cohen, Richard E. Washington at Work: Back Rooms and Clean Air Chpt.7: Special Interests and Influence Chpt.12: Epilogue: The Conflicts Resume Gibbs, Love Canal Chpt.2: The Swale Theory Case Study: Woburn, Mass. Civil Action Mann and Plummer, Noah’s Choice Chpt.1: Seventeen Beetles Film: Meltdown at Three Mile Island Reflective Journal Due May 3rd Current Events Journals Due May 7th May 10th- 14th Other Participants: Science and Business, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Environmental Interest Groups and Environmental Justice Gelbspan, The Heat is On Introduction: Climate Change Is Here Now Chpt.1: Of Termites and Computer Models Chpt.2: The Battle for Control of Reality Chpt.3: At Congressional Book Burning Chpt.4: The Changing Climate of Business: Boon or Bankruptcy Gibbs, The Love Canal Chpt.3: The Killing Ground Chpt.4: The Motel People Chpt.5: Still Studying the Problem Exercise/Guest Speaker: The Kentucky Bottle Bill Werbach, Adam. Act Now, Apologize Later Introduction Section 3: The Many Faces of Environmentalists Section 5: Who Put the Twinkies in My Canyon? Bullard, Robert. Dumping in Dixie (excerpts) Exercise: Environmental Justice Reflective Journal Due May 10th Current Events Journals Due May 14th Policy Paper Proposal Due May 14th May 17th-21st Questions of Stewardship: Private Property and/or Public Lands Hawken, Paul. The Ecology of Commerce: A Declaration of Sustainability Chpt.1: A Teasing Irony Chpt.7: Private Lives and Corporate Rights Gore, Al. Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit Introduction Chpt.1 Ships in the Desert Chpt.10 Eco-nomics: Truth or Consequences Ray, Environmental Overkill Part 3: This Land is Our Land Class Exercise: Development or Suburban Sprawl? Hardin, Garrett. "The Tragedy of the Commons," Science, Dec. 13, 1968. Gelbspan, The Heat is On Chpt.5 After Rio: The Swamp of Diplomacy Chpt.6: Headlines from the Planet Chpt.7: The Coming Permanent State of Emergency Chpt.8: One Pathway to the Future Mann and Plummer, Noah’s Choice Chpt.4: Uncooking the Frog Chpt.6: The Awful Beast is Back Chpt.8: Noah’s Choice Film: The Web of Life: Exploring Biodiversity Reflective Journal Due May 17th Policy Papers Due May 21st May 24th Conclusions and Final Review Carson, Rachel. Silent Spring. Chpt 17: The Other Road Gibbs, Love Canal Afterward Ray, Environmental Overkill Part 6: Conclusion Reflective Journal Due May 24th May 25thFinal Exam *
Please note changes in this schedule are inevitable as we progress through
the course. Any such changes will be announced in class. |
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