Geography 5 Week 1 Lecture 2 4 16 2012 5 06 00 AM Perspectives on and Vocabularies of Human Environmental Interactions 5 Place and Place Making Human Geography Space versus Place What s the Difference Space o Abstract a realm without meaning like time o Produces the basic coordinates Place o Place Space Meaning 6 Geography is the study of how humans make the earth their home Yifu Tuan Earth o Physical Geography o Spatial analysis of the physical elements and processes of the Earth system Humans o Cultural Human Geography o How do people organize themselves in space social relations o Politics Economics Culture etc Home o Physical Psychological Moral Concepts o Satisfies humanity s basic bio social needs and their higher social aesthetic aspirations Transformation of the Earth can be both Physical and or Cosmological Things to Think About in Human Environment Geography Are Culture and Nature two different things Picture of Chinese landscape o natural o humans carved a staircase enhancement of environment Are Environmental Problems Technical or Socioeconomic Problems How do we Problematize the Environment o Ramifications Causes Solutions o How may energy have both technical and socio political aspects How are the Costs and Benefits of Environmental Degradation Spread Across Society Do the poor and disenfranchised suffer more than the rich and powerful NIBY Not In My Backyard o political powers live in communities with lower costs What are the linkage between local national and global processes and environmental problems What is the role of Scale What time frame are we viewing environmental problems in Human Time vs Geological Time What Methods do we Employ to Evaluate Detect or Predict Environmental Change Scientific Moral Methods Influence of Power How do we put a Value on Environmental Change Economic Value Aesthetic Value Cultural Value Who Evaluates What is the role of Individual Government Civil Society Market in addressing environmental problems Three Perspectives on Human Environmental Relations People view the environment differently from one another Utilitarian Anthropocentric Perspective Nature is to be used for the benefit of Humans o It can Sustain us Clothe House Feed o It can Please us Aesthetically Broad Spectrum o Sustained Use Unsustainable Exploitation The Vocabulary o Manage Sustainable Development o Conservation Exploit Develop Tap etc o Example Selective Logging Versus Clear Cutting Environmental Sustainability is the ability of an ecosystem to maintain productivity for Humans into the future Often embraces Technology Science to achieve sustainability or maximum exploitation Scientific Modern Technology Traditional Indigenous Technology Technocratic Bio Centric Eco Centric Perspective Nature has inherent rights equal to and independent of humans Humans have Moral Responsibiitl to give Nature those rights Vocabulary o Save Name Preserve Nature Get Back to Nature In Touch with Nature etc Can Advocate Spiritual Engagement with Nature e g Westerners looking to Eastern Religions lie Buddhism Often Espouses Primitivism or Simple Living Glorification of Traditional Societies as being in touch with Nature Often Skeptical of Modern Technology Stress Responsibilities etc Some Advocate Militant Defense of Nature e g Earth First Animal Liberation Front o feel like animals and humans ought to have the right o Earth First popular in the 1990 s advocated primiativism Social Nature Perspective third perspective Nature is a Human Concept a Social Construct o the word is made up by humans nature o We all view nature differently o Different factors age gender race etc We all view nature differently o What we know if framed by our experiences education class culture ethnicity gender religion etc Postmodern Perspective o that there may be multiple truths o the idea of a single truth does not exist the truth is relative Science is just a way of seeing nature Technology may change our view of nature e g Natural Resources Power is instrumental in defining the Truth about nature e g Global Warming Our views of nature are a Historical Product change over time e g Wilderness Wilderness Act 1964 humans cannot build in the wilderness What do you see