Abstract In this article, the writer discusses the rise of the environmentalmovement in the west. The writer makes specific reference to the characteristics of the environmentalmovement, with the objective of finding out how to maximize membership of the environmentalmovement.
From the Paper This paper attempts to gain insight into the dynamics of the environmental movement, specifically in regard to its growth in the West. This is done by reviewing the relevant literature, theories and studies.
Abstract The paper looks at the influence of the book on the ban of the use of DDT, and how it spurred revolutionary changes in the laws that have been destroying air, land and water of this planet. The initiation of the environmentalmovement is explored in relation to the book and the development of this movement is traced.
From the Paper "Seldom there have been incidents in the history of mankind that a single book has managed to alter the path of history, but Silent Spring written by Rachel Carson did precisely that. The book forced the ban on the use of DDT, after its publication in 1962, and spurred revolutionary changes in the laws that have been destroying air, land, and water of this planet. The obsessive concern of Carson for the future of this planet and the humanity that has been living for billions of years, echoed forcefully throughout the world, as her expressive book has been influential in the initiation of the environmental movement (2)."
Abstract In this paper, the writer explains that, although the concept of wilderness preservation seems idyllic and mostly undisputed by Americans, it perpetuates Western society's harmful dualistic and disassociated relationship with nature. The writer believes that the concept of wilderness is inept in transmitting the potential solutions and social transformations necessary to address the widespread environmental crisis. The writer argues that the concept of wilderness is based upon an American ideal, which cannot be matched by other nations and often times by its very inhabitants. The writer then suggests that, instead of wilderness, nature would be a unifying term for the environmentalmovement.
From the Paper The concepts of nature and wilderness can also be strange and non-useful to inhabitants of The United States. For instance, oftentimes individuals who reside in urban and inner city settings tend to disassociate themselves from wilderness. What is wilderness, for example, if you claim you have never experienced or seen it? Again, when nature and wilderness are an "Other," it is difficult to relate to a place that is substantially distant from you. Many inner city children have never experienced being in the wilderness and most fear such encounters as the first people who landed on America's shores."
Tags: recreational, disassociated relationship, collective amnesia, nature other
A review of the work of Wangari Maathai the woman activist in environmental issues and her efforts in the formation of the "The Green Belt Movement" that she initiated.
Abstract The paper discusses that women in the world have become more prominent in their fight to protect the environment and the ecosystems. In this discussion the paper highlights the efforts of Wangari Maathai, the woman activist, in achieving a reduction of the negative effects on the environment of deforestation. The paper states that in terms of female activism, Maathai has helped to show that women in Africa are capable of playing a leading role in environmental issues. The paper concludes that the Green Belt Movement that she initiated has helped to raise awareness about environmental issues not only in Africa but internationally.
Outline:
Introduction
The Green Belt Movement Wangari Maathai and the origins of the Green Belt Movement Conclusion
From the Paper "Environmental activism has become an important part of the battle to save the environment in the age of global warming and climate change. In the last decade, women have become more involved in active and leading roles. Initiatives such as the Green Belt movement have proven their worth as essential in the battle against the decline in environmental standards throughout the world. This paper will discuss will the Green Belt Movement and its founder, Wangari Maathai, from both the environmental and social perspectives. While this movement has been proven to have a considerable affect on the issue of deforestation, it is at the same time a social movement that has also advanced the cause of the empowerment of women in Africa and the world."
A discussion of the history of the conservation movement in the U.S. and the effect of Frederick Law Olmstead, Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir on environmentalism.
Abstract This paper examines how the environmentalmovement in America can be traced to the politics and conservation policies of three men and how Frederick Law Olmstead, Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir had possibly the strongest influence on what modern day America considers environmentalism and conservation. It shows how the combination of these three men ultimately had a tremendous effect on the mindset of the conservationalist population in North America. It evaluates how Olmstead's parks are known and imitated throughout the world, Roosevelt's environmental policies were so innovative and ahead of their time, that today eighty some years after his death, we still have many National Forests and National Parks to enjoy and how the deep rooted environmental convictions of John Muir are responsible for the beating heart of the environmentalmovement.
From the Paper "It was as President that Roosevelt had the largest effect on the conservation movement in the United States. When Roosevelt began his quest to put aside land for future generations, the forest reserves in the United States included approximately forty three million acres. Under Roosevelt's direction, this expanded to one hundred and ninety four million acres which represents nearly a four hundred percent increase in the acreage that was set aside. The area that Roosevelt protected is larger than France, Belgium, and the Netherlands combined. "
Abstract This paper looks at the causes and motivations for environmentalism, and the effect of large-scale environmental disasters on various environmentalist movements. The paper looks specifically at the role of globalization and privatization of water and other natural resources, the role of the commons and the effects on the natural world. The paper further discusses the possible alternatives presented by the Deep Ecology movement.
Abstract The paper provides definitions of ecofeminism, pluralism and environmental pragmatism and explains their respective missions. The paper also discusses the criticisms of and challenges facing these philosophies. The paper shows how these movements all have the main goal of bringing the cause of environmentalism to the public's attention, but they pursue this goal through different methods.
Outline:
Descriptions and Definitions
Environmental Ethics
Difficulties and Challenges
Summary
From the Paper "Ecofeminism, or ecological feminism, was a phrase coined in 1973. It is a philosophy and movement that believes the domination and oppression of women and abuse against the environment and other species to be closely interrelated. It can be looked at as the juxtaposition of two movements. As support, some point to linguistic similarities in the oppression of women and nature such as "rape the land" or "tame nature."
"Ecofeminists may criticize western lifestyle choices which routinely destroy nature, sometimes for frivolous reasons, like golf courses. Some blame patriarchy, in that the male-dominated society has led to a dominator culture, resulting in technology via the exploitation of land and women."
Tags: ecology, nature, pollution, women, special, interest, groups
Abstract This paper examines "Chinatown", a film that combines elements of environmentalism into the story that it tells. It looks at how the films beginning may be classified as a classic film noir, but as the film progresses the film speaks to humanity's responsibility to the environment, as well as different moral and ethical philosophies and how they relate to the environmentalmovement. It discusses such themes as personal ethics and environmental justice as well as the two moral theories at play in the story, that of Mill's and Bentham's Utilitarianism and that of Immanuel Kant's Categorical Imperative.
From the Paper "There are several features about Utilitarianism that are important, for the sake of the movie, and otherwise. One of these is that actions, in and of themselves, have no moral value. The problem is then, that the actions of Noah Cross and his cohort are not in and of themselves moral or immoral. At the same time, the actions of Gittes are, in and of themselves, neither immoral or moral either. In each case, what is important is the end-result. According to Utilitarian principles, the only aspect of the state of the world that has any moral significance is the happiness or misery of people. All people are, ethically speaking, always equal, in other words, one person's happiness is worth as much an y one else's happiness."
Abstract The writer first gives a background of the environmentalmovement and the awakening of world awareness surrounding the preservation of environmental resources. The paper then explains the ways in which corporations have chosen to relate to the issue, either claiming responsibility or denying a role in the race to preserve natural resources. The paper investigates the feasibility of incorporating the concept of sustainable development into commercial bank business lending decisions.
From the Paper "Bennett and James (1998) suggested that the appropriate approach is the development of a "green bottomline" that would be structured within the framework of managerial accounting. Managerial accounting, however, does not carry the force of financial accounting. Feltmate (1997) suggested that the link between accountability and corporate responsibility for protection of the physical environment be structured within the concept of accounting for sustainable development (ASD). ASD is manifested in many forms in the contemporary period, as the accounting profession in the industrialized nations has not developed a consensus on which of the several approaches to ASD should be adopted as the standard. What most proponents of the ASD concept do agree upon, however, is that non-market values must be incorporated into financial accounting in order to establish an effective link between accountability and corporate responsibility for the protection of the physical environment."
This paper looks at the different religious distortions and the meaning of how we use and view the world around us based on the movie, Babette's Feast and the book, "For the Life of the World."
Abstract This paper discusses the distortions in religion as they appear in the movie, Babette's Feast and the book, "For the Life of the World." The paper explains that there are three ways of practicing religion; religious, secular and sacramental. The paper goes on to explain why the sacramental view is the correct way to act and not the religious or secular views.
From the Paper "In the film Babette's Feast, a major religious point is being shown to the audience through a fable. This fable consists of several different characters: a pastor and his two daughters, Martina and Philippa, several suitors for these daughters, townspeople, and a French housemaid. The fable deals with the way that the townspeople relate to their God through their extremely pious actions and attitudes, and how these views become changed by the end of the movie through a feast given by the French maid, Babette. The lesson being taught by this movie also deals directly with explanations of the Christian religion by Alexander Schmemann in his book, For the Life of the World. The main lesson being taught deals with the various different ways of leading lives dedicated to God, and how each one in its own way is either right and wrong. These different views are: the Secular, which says that the physical is all there is, so do the most with it, the Religious, in which people try to get closer to God by distancing themselves from material things, and the Sacramental, which says that we should be thankful for the things because they were made by God and know that they are not all that there is, and by doing such we are living in communion with God. The movie shows the audience that the Secular distortion and the Religious distortion are both incorrect, and that the Sacramental view is the correct path through the reactions of the various groups to Babette's feast. "
Abstract This paper examines the similarities of outlook and points of departure between environmentalists and animal rights activists. This includes a literature review which evaluates the background for the differing perspectives of these groups. The author points out similarities between environmentalists and animal rights activists, but concludes that these groups still have distinct opinions. The paper concludes by stating the two groups should be aware that they are fighting the same battle.
From the Paper " The facts of the matter are this: there are some people who believe that environmental ethics and animal rights are two different and disjointed genres, there are still who believe that animal rights and the conservative or backward morals/principles have more in common then environmental ethics and animal right, it is also true, perhaps based on the most sound facts, that both the advocates of environmental health and animals rights have the exact identical foe, for example, an environmentalist and animal rights activist would both equally care about the hazardous effects of cutting down rainforests to evenly space the luxurious demand of lifestyles of the ever growing population, they would equally be concerned about the poisonous waste dumps in the oceans and rivers that has been one of the causes of the endangerment of whales, etc. In fact, when looking at the records of the environmental fights and debates that have been fought in the past, it is no surprise to see the aspect of animal suffering and extinction being given its due attention. It is also interesting to note that fights fought by the environmentalist and animal rights activist before the World War II took place were all based on the selfish and ruthless destruction of one of the nature's most bounty resources and the extinction of the other in order to better insure the development of weapons or forces equipments, and treating both the natural resources and animals (humans and non-humans) as expendable and insignificant goods. Both groups refused to believe in the utmost faith given to science as the solution to all the problems and it is no surprise that both these revolutions began with very little space between each other. There are people now who support both the groups; environmentalist and animal rights, and feel that there is no distinction or apprehension between the two concepts, and feel that both are concerned about the greater good of the same thing: nature (Jamieson, 1997). "
Abstract This paper discusses the morality and ethics behind lies. It bases its discussion on three different sources, which are attached in the appendix. The paper states that although there is nearly universal agreement in human societies that lying is wrong, most people instinctively know that they should not tell lies, but they do not really understand the ethics-based foundation of why lying is wrong. A close examination leads the paper to the conclusion that while lying is ethically and morally wrong in most conceivable cases, there do seem to be conditions and circumstances in which lying is not wrong.
From the Paper "Ultimately, examining these different ethical perspectives on lying and taking into account various contributing factors indicates that while lying is ethically and morally wrong in most conceivable cases, there do seem to be conditions and circumstances in which lying is not wrong. Some philosophers have argued that it even appears to be the case that in relatively rare circumstances, not lying would be morally and ethically wrong. But these are exceptions to the prevailing ethical and moral standard that lying is wrong."
Abstract This paper looks at one of Al Franken's (the writer and performer of the popular television show Saturday Night Live) most popular works, "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right. " First, the paper discusses several types of media bias that Franken reveals. Then, it looks at some of arguments that Franken makes about mainstream media coverage, as well as his criticisms of conservative media pundits and media sources. All the while, the paper presents the writer's opinion as to Franken's validity.
From the Paper "Al Franken and Lies Going from writer and performer on the ever-popular television show, Saturday Night Live, Al Franken has become a political pundit for American liberals and a successful writer of critical commentary books that are both humorous and politically sound. The first biases that Franken notes are those that "stem from something called 'the profit motive'" (Franken 1). "
Abstract This paper evaluates the ethics of lying in business in the context of two recent high profile cases: Enron and Martha Stewart. It concludes that lying is bad business that cannot be justified.
Abstract This paper argues that lying in business cannot be justified, even if it is to protect trade secrets. The paper uses two high profile cases as examples: Martha Stewart's case where she was found guilty of insider trading and the Enron scandal which involved the entire financial assets of the company.
From the Paper "Some executives justifying to protect trade secrets or to maintain a competitive advantage that could affect their ability to remain profitable. There are those, however, who feel that lying calls an individual's-or a company's-integrity into question. If a company is willing to lie about its product, or its plans or in its advertising what else does it lie about? This research examines two recent high-profile instances of company executives caught lying and concludes that lying by company officials cannot be justified."
