political timed test
POLI -103 Contemporary political ideologies
Maryanne Cliche
Mcliche@coquitlamcollege.com
PLAN FOR TODAY
• 1.RECAP • 2. FOLLOW-UP ON PROJETCS • 3. INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT • 1a) Definition • 1b) Origins and evolution • 1c) Related concepts • 1d) Challenges •
• 4. HOMEWORK
HOMEWORK
1- Read Chapter 9 of your textbook
2- Review all additional resources on C4
3- Answer the following questions: A) Why did Green Politics become an ideology,
what was it reacting against? B) What is one the main challenge that it is facing
in its application? C) Review the political platform of the Green
Party of Canada. Find 2 political actions that it is advocating for that are related to concepts of Green Politics.
4-Think about how climate change is affecting the world we live in. Use 2 examples to support your argument
FOLLOW-UP PROJECTS
• 1- ONLY ONE REVIEW OF YOUR DRAFT PER GROUP
• 2- LOOK UP THE PRESENTATION CALENDAR AND DEADLINES ON C4
RECAP
DEFINITION – GREEN POLITICS
• GREEN POLITICS: « Green politics aims to create
an ecologically sustainable society rooted in environmentalism, non- violence, social justice and grassroots democracy. »
Derek Wall, 2010 The No-Nonsense Guide to Green Politics.
Human beings are born;
1. Dependent and interconnected to nature and its ecosystems.
All species and living creatures;
2. Are interdependent and interconnected
Human beings, just like other
species; 3. Are part of
nature
VAGENT OBSTACLE
GREEN POLITICS ON FREEDOM
GOAL
SURVIVAL AND FLOURISHING OF SPECIESHUMANS
ANTHROPOCENTRISM OR HUMANISM
ORIGINS – GREEN POLITICS
In reaction to the environmental crisis
• 1960s and 1970s
Early thinkers or contributors
Rachel Carson ( 1907-1964) Aldo Leopold ( 1887-1948)
Modern thinkers or contributors
Derek Wall ( 1965) Al Gore (1948-)
KEY FEATURES OF GREEN POLITICS
1. The Green critique of other ideologies
• Liberals, socialists and (some) conservatives have shared a similar attitude towards nature, one that celebrates the ever increasing human conquest or mastery of nature.
2. Green Politics propose an new ecological ethic
• An ethic that rethinks our attitudes toward and actions within the natural environment.
A NEW ETHIC THAT;
1- Emphasizes the web of interconnections and mutual dependence within which we and other species live.
A NEW ETHIC THAT;
2- Emphasizes the respect for life.
A NEW ETHIC THAT;
3- Emphasizes our obligation as human beings to respect and care for the conditions that sustain life on Earth.
A NEW ETHIC THAT;
4- Emphasizes our obligation to be stewards of the Earth for the sake of future generations as well.
THE 4 FUNCTIONS
1 Explanation = The irresponsible disregard of human beings (anthropocentrism) for the delicate and interconnected web of life led to the actual environmental crisis.
2 Evaluation = Conditions are good if the natural environment is preserved or protected.
3 Orientation = The sense of identity is based on the affiliation and interconnectedness of human beings with other species and its inclusion in the natural world.
4 Functions & Green Politics
4 Political Program
=To promote practices and policies that protect the natural environment, educate and enlighten people about human beings’ dependence and responsibility over the natural environment.
CHALLENGES/CRITICS
1.Some misunderstanding remains 2. Short-Termism 3. Uneven distribution of public goods will necessitate concerted international actions 4. Many shades or Green 5. The concept of free rider 6. The environmental crisis will require a political response
DEFINITION – SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
A Few Facts
4.5 billion years
DEFINITION
“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
1987, Our Common Future (Brundtland report)
The Earth Summit in Rio - 1992
ORIGINS AND EVOLUTION
Agenda 21
ORIGINS AND EVOLUTION
Rio +20 - 2012
ORIGINS AND EVOLUTION
ORIGINS AND
EVOLUTION
MODERN THINKERS OR CONTRIBUTORS
Gro Harlem Brundtland (1939-) Paul Hawken (1946-) Karl Henrik Robert (1947-)
RELATED CONCEPTS
THE LINEAR ECONOMY EXPLAINED
1. The actual economy is based on a linear
model, also referred to as ;
Take-Make-Waste Model
= This model generates 11 millions of solid waste
daily and puts rising economic and
environmental pressures on governments.
2. Sustainable development aims to replace the linear model by a circular economy model, also reffered to as ; Take – Make - Replace
Definition:
“The circular economy is restorative and regenerative by design. Relying on system-wide innovation, it aims to redefine products and services to design waste out, while minimising negative impacts. Underpinned by a transition to renewable energy sources, the circular model builds economic, natural and social capital.”
Source: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-economy
Ellen MacArthur (1976-)
THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY EXPLAINED
3. Sustainable development promotes symbiotic relationships between human beings and all species = a relationship between two or more organisms that live closely together and in which both species benefit from the relationship.
4. Ecological footprint, ecological deficit and overshoot day
Ecological footprint: is a metric that measures how much we consume resources and generate waste.
Ecological deficit: happens when a country or individual’s demand for goods and services exceeds a region’s ecosystems to renew natural resource.
Overshoot day: marks the day that the world enters into an ecological deficit. Since the 1970s, humanity has been in ecological overshoot, with annual demand on resources exceeding what Earth can regenerate each year.
Source: https://www.footprintnetwork.org/our-work/ecological-footprint/
4. Ecological footprint, ecological deficit and overshoot day
In 2019, July 29th marked the day we
used more from nature than our
planet can renew in the whole year.
CHALLENGES
1. Collaboration and concerted political actions are necessary to achieve sustainable development initiatives
• e.g. Air and water pollution know no national or local boundaries
• e.g. According to the tragedy of the commons theory ; society cannot rely on voluntary efforts to solve environmental problems
• e.g. The environmental crisis is growing and will require a political response
2. Short- termism
• e.g. We are the “generation now” • e.g. Indicators of profitability are presented in quarterly reports and shareholders expect return on their investments • e.g. Politicians are in office for a limited time and implementing long-term policies can be challenging
3. Planned obsolescence
= A business strategy in which the end of life of a product is planned and built into it from its conception.
• e.g. A popular strategies in the fashion and the IT industries to prompt customers to buy newer items or models
• e.g. It is often easier and cheaper to buy an item that is obsolete or broken rather than repair it
HOMEWORK
1- Review all the resources on C4 2- Answer the following questions: A) What is an ecological footprint? B) How does the circular economy differ from the linear
economy? C) What does Sustainable development mean? Who is
credited for having invented the concept and when?