Home | Information | Schedule | Links | Communication
Session Three
 |
Sustainability I: Introduction to Global Environmental Problems |
Class Overview
|
The class will involve a discussion of the student's educational biography and an introduction to global environmental problems. Likewise, students will share with one another their experiences during their Forest Environment Trip. |
 Readings |
Primary Reading: Agenda 21, Preamble, & Sustainable Development REPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT (Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992) Web Reading: Life Cycle Analysis and Sustainability: Read the topics on this web site to learn about "life cycle analysis" and how this concept relates to sustainability. Read the article entitled "Defining Sustainability" and be prepared to define what the term means in context. Comments: You have challenging and technical reading this week as we gain an overview of the complexity of "interlocking crises" and the seriousness of environmental problems. The concept of sustainability is introduced. Your reading is for understanding and to prepare to write a paper due in Week Five. |
 Writing Assignment |
Students you should
have received your comments back for the first writing assignment. Think about which environmental problem you would like to write on in your next short paper due in Week Five. Click the icon for information on Writing Assignment # 2. |
 |
Discussion Questions:
1. What is Agenda 21? What is the Preamble of Agenda 21 about? 2. What is "sustainability"? What are the various definitions & types of sustainability proposed? 3. What does sustainability mean as defined on the Global Futures Foundation web site? 4. Identify and briefly discuss 5 indicators of sustainable development. 5. What is meant by the term sustainable agriculture? Post your responses to these discussion questions on the Web Board for Session 3. |
 Journal Writing |
Continue to regularly make entries into your journal. Decide what grade you would like for your journal and plan how often to do entries accordingly. Be sure to do a reflective entry after each field trip. You might want to add a journal entry for instance on how sustainable you find your local development or community as a habitat that supports both the human, animal and plant community. You might want to walk around your neighborhood and think about this. |