- A number of social phenomenon discussed in this course vie as the leading cause of environmental problems: overconsumption, the problem of collective action, the Western ethos, population growth, social inequality, and uneven development, to name a few. Which do you feel is the most important, and why? Justify your answer sociologically.
- Give an example of how environmental policies have been used to promote social exclusion.
- What are the ideological origins of environmental decline? In your answer, be sure to draw upon material both from lecture and from course readings.
- It is well known by now that industrial production usually entails pollution of some sort, and often hazardous production practices. And yet this production continues. On what basis are these practices usually defended? What are some of the counter-arguments?
- It is clear that we in the West consume far more material goods than we need physiologically. Based on your readings and material presented in lecture, explain why our wants so drastically exceed our needs. Also, what are some changes that could be made to bring our wants more in line with our needs?
- Describe two ways our lives are “socially constituted” to cause environmental problems.
- Explain the critique that environmentalism is a “passing flavor-of-the-month kind of issue.” Do you agree or disagree? What evidence would you provide to support your argument?
- Explain the critique that environmentalism is mainly an “elite issue.” Do you agree or disagree? What evidence would you provide to support your argument?
- The public health and environmental movements are sometimes at odds with each other. Why is this the case? What might be done to improve the situation?
- As an expert in environmental sociology, you have been asked to give a brief speech at a major international conference on the future of governing the world’s environment. What will you say? Be sure in your speech to say how top-down and bottom-up approaches could be used. Justify your answer sociologically, drawing on material from this course.
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