Geo 5 Week 2 Lecture 3 4 16 2012 5 10 00 AM Ecological Modernization Environmental Problems are caused by Irrational Traditional Behavior and or Inappropriate Technology Application of Science and Scientific Methods is the solution o Truth will talk to Power Scientific Experts should lead conservation efforts trained experts Socio Political Approach Environmental problems are caused by social political and economic processes and power relations o Inequality Poverty Oppression Unfair Market Forces Solving social problems are key to solving environmental problems Social Scientists just as important as Natural Scientists Populist Approach Environmental problems local Local people have knowledge about local environments Indigenous Technical Knowledge ITK can solve environmental problems Participatory Studies by Natural Social Scientists Non Liberal Approach Environmental Problems caused by inappropriate economic valuing Market solutions are best o Create Market Incentives Eradicate Irrational Subsidies Critique Ecological Modernization o Monolithic view on nature may be other possible perspectives to solve for environmental problems o Science is costly and certain sciences receive funding while others do not Socio Political Approach Populist Approach o outside help is useful o local people may have incentives for their local environmental issues Non Liberal Approach o Markets don t regulate themselves so outside forces are needed to enforce regulate and place rules and guidelines Environmental History of the United States I The Colonial Encounter Ecological Changes 1400 v 1850 o Massive o Native Wildlife Domesticated Animals turkeys are making a comeback o Prairie Farmland Ecological Changes Understood by looking at o Changes in Economy Power Socio Political Changes Ways of Society Understanding Nature Social Nature analysis o More Complex Understanding than Good Native Americans and Bad European Private Property vs Communal Property Surplus Oriented vs Susbsistence Oriented Hunter Gatherer Cycles Europeans likes to produce more than needed to have a surplus and profit on selling extra produce o Capitalistic Native Americans were more concerned with Subsistence Market Oriented vs Tied to European Markets vs Small Scale Trading Bartering Commodification of Nature o made items marketable and into products Little Commodification of Nature Europeans were more Market Oriented and commodified nature Wilderness encounters the Market Shift from local production and use Subsistence to production for a Global Market Chinese villages and sexism and gender issues can be seen in division of labor