Environmental Questions
This site asks questions about our environment and its management. Clearly the biggest question is how to proceed, and how to move towards environmental sustainability. It is easy when thinking about the plight of our environment to think that all is doomed. It would be defeatist to think that all is pointless. Change is occurring and it is occurring through individual action (bottom-up) and from international cooperation (top-down).
Ask questions and seek answers!
Although we are not yet over our 'Year 2000' bug, it is still a time for optimism and hard work. In the ‘80s and ‘90s we were threatened with 'Life beyond the year 2000': a life without clean water, a breathable atmosphere or food shortages even in developed countries. Fortunately, the mark has come and is long gone and these environmental disaster predictions have not come true. The urgency in the general population has been lost. Those who study environmental issues and read widely know that the sustainability situation is still critical. The scare campaign has failed and now done more damage than good. Environmental degradation is still occurring throughout the world and the majority of the developed world is oblivious party to it.
Growing Disparity!
The average upper-middle class Australian is conveniently oblivious to how the majority of the world’s population live. Their $250 - $300 per day is ‘consumed’. Spent on every convenience, using resources at a disgusting rate while billions of people struggle to even get their essential needs met, with no certainty and no luxury.
Questionable?
Clearly action is required, questions need to be asked, and answers discovered. The problem may be grounded in ignorance, but it is cultural and needs to be reversed. Behaviours changed through greater awareness, not of the disparity, but of the way forward. The real things that one can start to do to change things. One step at a time.
That is what this site is all about. Making changes. Clearly the right answers have not yet been found, and perhaps the right questions have not even been asked.
Environmental Activism
When is enough...enough?
10 March 2006
Activists are extremely important in environmental progress. Government and Activists need each other. 'When is enough...enough.' At what point does an Activist cross when they are so emotionally involved that what they do becomes dangerous. Is point at which they no longer are making logical gains or progression for the environment? Will it cause a negative public view towards, not that Activist group but generalise it towards all Activist groups? Would you call some of these Activists extremists? Is this a point where the government needs to take these activists interests into consideration, but make their own informed decision? ... read more.
Activists are like Scooby-doo: they dont have all the facts but they are still effective
04 March 2006
Imagine a world without environmental activists: Every country with nuclear weapons will be testing them. There would be no pushing for green energy. Radioactive wastes would be dumped at sea. Incinerating organochlorine wastes would be dumped at sea. Antarctica would be a mine. There would be no such thing as illegal logging. Whales would be extinct. Persistent Organic Pollutants would be in use. Everything we eat would be genetically modified food. Nuclear rectors would be the way to go. The great barrier reef would be a mine. Kakadu would be called uranium world. Millions more animal extinctions. Companies would get away with a lot more. Environmental issues would not be near the tops of many government agendas. ... read more.
Collaborated Approach in Third World Countries
28 February 2006
Lets take a look at the state of environmental issues in third world countries such as India, Brazil, Ethiopia, Nepal and China. It is in these countries that much of the worst environmental degradation anywhere in the world has occurred. In most of these countries it has only been in very recent times that the respective governments have begun to introduce policies to try and minimise the extensive degradation problems that their countries face. It is no coincidence that this policy development has come about soon after the formation of, and pressure applied by various environmental activist groups. Before the governments were exposed to pressures from such groups they saw no reason to draw up any environmental policy. But now that people in these countries are becoming better informed, or, activist groups are not being quashed by strict government regimes, governments are being forced to take notice. ... read more.
Real Life Situtations
25 February 2006
In Mainland China, demonstrations and protests are not allowed. The government can put you into jail if you overtly oppose any policies from the Central Government. Therefore, in the 1989 Beijing Tiananmen Square Incident, thousands of people died just because they tried to voice out their discontents and opinions about the Government. Almost at the same time, Dai Qing, a former journalist, overtly opposed the building of the Three Gorges Dam in Yangtze River by publishing a book, was arrested, accused of being an "instigator" of the "turmoil." These prosecutions are frequently vague and ambiguous but the Chinese Government does use such to control the society. These situations do make me believe that democracy is the major factor for any Conflict Model to run smoothly. I would not say the Conflict Model can only work in democratic societies as China does change a lot a lot since the 1989 Tiananmen Square Incident. However, the price was far too high for the changes! Therefore, a democratic society that tolerates oppositions would enhance reforms of the society. ... read more.
Collaborated Approach
22 February 2006
We have all heard or maybe even said, 'It is not the outcome or solution that is important it is the process by which took place to arrive to the outcome or solution.' In this case the legislation is the outcome and the activities of the Environmental activists and Government are the process. ... read more.
A vital Component of Functional Model
16 February 2006
An important component of the Functional Model is the Educational Sector in a society. Education is very important that helps shape a society in great extent. Education builds up our values, attitudes and affects our behaviours. It is not that socialisation is not important, but education is far more important. It enables one to see the world with a very different perspective compare with before. ... read more.
Structural-Functional vs Conflict Model
10 February 2006
The structural-functional model of society emphasises the process of socialisation, or learning to follow rules established through stable social institutions. On the other hand, the conflict model proposes a more dynamic society, whereby a society moves forward through power struggles over rights and beliefs. (See Edgar, Earle & Fopp (1993) for a more detailed discussion of these models). ... read more.
Governments vs Activists
07 February 2006
The bottom line and dearest concern of all governments is ensuring they get returned to office. This one goal colours all policy and all legislation. A government will not make a decision unless they feel it will aid their cause, unless it will increase their votes at the next election. Therefore we cannot rely upon them to act in an unpopular manner. ... read more.
Green Governing Our Future?
02 February 2006
Throughout History, individuals have appeared who made environmental stewardship their life work. For example, overseas, treasures like Yosemite and the Grand Canyon became national parks because of activists. Here in Australia, the Tasmanian Dam Case disaster (for example) was averted due to the efforts of a handful of passionate conservationists. ... read more.
A Dance Between Two Models
29 January 2006
The Functional Model is found in a harmonious and stable society in which each component of the society functions properly. Components of a society include government sector, commercial sector, etc. Each component is supposed to contribute to the stability of the societies social order in pursuing a common goal. ... read more.
Problems with Central Governance
25 January 2006
Centralised governance has seldom led to changes in the behaviour of individuals and communities toward more sustainable resource use and development. Problems have been identified by various writers in various literatures thus I found such are quite thorough. Problems identified are as follows: ... read more.
Gumbiment and Greenies
20 January 2006
Does government always make the best and most effective decisions for the environment? After all they have to please a cross section of world views.. and which view will keep them in power? Which position, and in whose opinion is the "right" one? On the other hand the environmental movement is often coloured with emotionalism. I am not willing to make a definitive decision on whether govt or environmentalists are doing the most/best for the environment just yet. I have to read a bit more and weigh it all up, rationally and objectively (attempting to put aside my 'gumbiment' biases!!). "Resisting the discourse: Rationality versus emotion..." by Welcomer et al 2000. They present an interesting case study. ... read more.
Conflict or Compliance?
14 January 2006
It is extremely unlikely that awareness of environmental issues (and therefore pressure on the government to act) would have reached current levels without environmental activists. Governments, especially in plutoctratic capitalist societies such as our own, are traditionally unwilling to bring about change in areas that may limit/slow GDP growth and it is only through exercising our limited democratic rights that any change or progress has been achieved. Having said this, the government is in the best position to enforce policies once they are decided upon. ... read more.