ENV330

ENV330

–

Introductory video

This may be the most important course that you ever take! The natural systems of the

Earth of which we

are a part and on which we are dependent for every instant of our lives are under attack by human

civilization, and are beginning to unravel. The air we breathe, the water we drink, the soil which grows

the food we eat, the oceans, the r

ivers and lakes, the creatures of the air and land and water, and future

generations are all endangered

–

along with us, since we are an interdependent part of the ecosystems of

Earth.

In this course you will learn how to live sustainably on Earth, your

home.

Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary course which includes science, philosophy, economics,

politics, psychology, theology, art, literature

–

just about everything!

Environmental problems usually have well understood scientific causes and s

olutions

–

but they are often

not implemented due to political, economic, psychological or religious reasons. Therefore, in order to

solve environmental problems

–

and better yet, to avoid them in the first place, we must consider the

broader and intercon

nected sociological, political, ethical and economic context.

We will consider all these factors and more in this course.

Individuals and entire cultures have particular “World Views” regarding their relationship and responsibility

with and towards natur

e. There are many different environmental world views, ranging from the more

self

-

centered all the way to Earth

-

Centered. Each of these world views have practical consequences

effecting Earth’s natural systems. How we perceive Nature and our relationshi

p to the planet and the rest

of creation helps to determine our lifestyles, buying habits, and political attitudes and so has a causal

effect on how our environment is treated

–

our environmental ethics.

We will also work towards understanding the Earth

Wisdom Worldview.

We need to shift our current unsustainable thinking to sustainable ways of thinking. For example, we

currently emphasize pollution cleanup, waste disposal, species protection, environmental degradation,

increased resource use, continued

population growth, and depletion and degradation of natural capital.

These unsustainable ways of thinking and interacting with the Earth need to be changed to sustainable

alternatives such as: Pollution Prevention instead of cleanup, Waste Prevention in

stead of disposal

(there is no “away”, as in “throw it away”!), Habitat Protection instead of Species Protection (what good is

a species if its ecosystem is destroyed?), Environmental Restoration instead of degradation, cease

Wasting Resources instead of i

ncreasing resource use as if the laws of the universe don’t count for us,

Population Stabilization instead of constant growth, Protection of Natural Capital instead of depletion and

degradation of Natural Capital. Destroying Natural Capital is like burnin

g certificates of deposit or stocks

and bonds to keep warm!

One of the central concepts of the Earth Wisdom perspective is that

nature

is the basis of wealth. Neo

-

classical economic theory considers the laws of nature as “externalities” to economics

–

eco

nomies are

solely about supply and demand and human ingenuity, ignoring the laws of the universe, including

ecological principles.

Ecological Economists consider human economies to be subsets of the ecosphere

–

totally dependent

upon natural capital, the e

cosystem services of nature, and controlled by the Laws of Physics and

Principles of Ecology. Economies do NOT exist separate from the realities of nature!

We will be learning much Earth Wisdom and many, many ways to create

sustainable

societies which w

ork

with

nature instead of against nature during this semester, including how to create sustainable

economies.

Welcome again to ENV330, where together, we will learn how to create sustainable societies on Earth.

ENV330 – Introductory video

This may be the most important course that you ever take! The natural systems of the Earth of which we

are a part and on which we are dependent for every instant of our lives are under attack by human

civilization, and are beginning to unravel. The air we breathe, the water we drink, the soil which grows

the food we eat, the oceans, the rivers and lakes, the creatures of the air and land and water, and future

generations are all endangered – along with us, since we are an interdependent part of the ecosystems of

Earth.

In this course you will learn how to live sustainably on Earth, your home.

Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary course which includes science, philosophy, economics,

politics, psychology, theology, art, literature – just about everything!

Environmental problems usually have well understood scientific causes and solutions – but they are often

not implemented due to political, economic, psychological or religious reasons. Therefore, in order to

solve environmental problems – and better yet, to avoid them in the first place, we must consider the

broader and interconnected sociological, political, ethical and economic context.

We will consider all these factors and more in this course.

Individuals and entire cultures have particular “World Views” regarding their relationship and responsibility

with and towards nature. There are many different environmental world views, ranging from the more

self-centered all the way to Earth-Centered. Each of these world views have practical consequences

effecting Earth’s natural systems. How we perceive Nature and our relationship to the planet and the rest

of creation helps to determine our lifestyles, buying habits, and political attitudes and so has a causal

effect on how our environment is treated – our environmental ethics.

We will also work towards understanding the Earth Wisdom Worldview.

We need to shift our current unsustainable thinking to sustainable ways of thinking. For example, we

currently emphasize pollution cleanup, waste disposal, species protection, environmental degradation,

increased resource use, continued population growth, and depletion and degradation of natural capital.

These unsustainable ways of thinking and interacting with the Earth need to be changed to sustainable

alternatives such as: Pollution Prevention instead of cleanup, Waste Prevention instead of disposal

(there is no “away”, as in “throw it away”!), Habitat Protection instead of Species Protection (what good is

a species if its ecosystem is destroyed?), Environmental Restoration instead of degradation, cease

Wasting Resources instead of increasing resource use as if the laws of the universe don’t count for us,

Population Stabilization instead of constant growth, Protection of Natural Capital instead of depletion and

degradation of Natural Capital. Destroying Natural Capital is like burning certificates of deposit or stocks

and bonds to keep warm!

One of the central concepts of the Earth Wisdom perspective is that nature is the basis of wealth. Neo-

classical economic theory considers the laws of nature as “externalities” to economics – economies are

solely about supply and demand and human ingenuity, ignoring the laws of the universe, including

ecological principles.

Ecological Economists consider human economies to be subsets of the ecosphere – totally dependent

upon natural capital, the ecosystem services of nature, and controlled by the Laws of Physics and

Principles of Ecology. Economies do NOT exist separate from the realities of nature!

We will be learning much Earth Wisdom and many, many ways to create sustainable societies which work

with nature instead of against nature during this semester, including how to create sustainable

economies.

Welcome again to ENV330, where together, we will learn how to create sustainable societies on Earth.