28 Sep Understanding Environmental Sociology

SOCS325 Environmental Sociology

Week 1 Discussion

Understanding Environmental Sociology

This week we will begin to explore the field of environmental sociology. To help us understand this important field of study and get our conversations started, address the following in your response.

 

Identify one pressing present day environmental issue (social problem) that may make planning sustainably for the future a challenge. Examples may include global poverty, consumerism, and so forth.

 

Why do you think planning sustainably is a challenge? Explain with the help of at least two reasons.

 

Discuss five precautionary approaches we could take to mitigate the influence of these factors on efforts toward sustainability. Examples include chaining cultural norms regarding consumption, revamping traditions to avoid excess or consumption, and so forth.

 

 

 

SOCS325 Environmental Sociology

 

Week 2 Discussion

 

Environmental Justice

 

Identify one prominent example of environmental injustice in your home or regional area.

 

Analyze the scope of the issue, the individuals or groups most impacted (and what if anything they have in common), and how the issue could have been prevented.

 

In your posting, respond by answering the following questions.

 

What groups were most typically impacted by environmental injustice?

 

What strategies would be most effective in preventing future injustices?

 

What is the role of social power, prestige, or political influence in these injustices?

 

Who is liable for environmental injustices?

 

 

 

SOCS325 Environmental Sociology

 

Week 3 Discussion

 

Considering Consumption

 

Select one of the many ways that we are consumers of our environments. For example, you may select the use of electricity, air conditioning, fossil fuels, or one of the many examples we have read about in the course.

 

As you analyze your selected form of consumption, address the following questions.

 

What is the reality of your consumption?

 

What social context led you to make purchases or consume products?

 

What are the possible environmental and social impacts of your consumption patterns?

 

How do modern or affluent lifestyles influence trends in consumption?

 

Did purchases reflect wants or needs? Why or why not?

 

How might purchasing only for need influence environmental change?

 

 

 

SOCS325 Environmental Sociology

 

Week 4 Discussion

 

The Social Organization of Convenience

 

Convenience is a major feature of the modern world that we inhabit. But what is the cost? Identify and list examples that illustrate the “social organization of convenience” (think beyond vehicles and select a less obvious example for your response).

 

Discuss whether there could conceivably be alternative forms of convenience that people would like and that would be better for the environment. If so, what would they be, and how would they need to work?

 

Conclude your discussion by using your selected example to examine the social factors (phenomenology, culture, politics, etc.) that might have to be overcome to change to a different form of convenience.

 

 

 

SOCS325 Environmental Sociology

 

Week 5 Discussion

 

Environmental Tourism: Good vs. Bad

 

Describe the major ways that tourism supports wildlife conservation. Then identify the major ways in which tourism can harm wildlife conservation. Overall, do you believe that tourism is good or bad for wildlife conservation?

 

 

 

SOCS325 Environmental Sociology

 

Week 6 Discussion

 

Ecological Rationality

 

This week we will work to define ecological rationality.

 

To help unpack this complex concept, explore one recent example of public officials (policy makers, leaders, etc.) employing this type of thinking to advocate for systemic change and address environmental problems.

 

As part of your analysis, respond to the following questions.

 

What issues were being explored?

 

What drove the ecological rationality?

 

What was the outcome?     What obstacles did ecological rationality face in the debate or process?

 

SOCS325 Environmental Sociology

 

Week 7 Discussion

 

Contestation and Social Action

 

Define contestation. Discuss what this means both in theory (definition) and in practice citing recent events or examples in your analysis.

 

As part of your analysis, respond to the following questions.

 

What does contestation mean in practice for social movements?

 

How do environmental movements confront contestation?

 

Analyze the role of contestation in that movement’s success (or lack thereof) or broadening of appeal.

 

 

 

SOCS325 Environmental Sociology

 

Week 8 Discussion

 

Green Futures

 

As we bring the course to a close, we will examine the concept of greening cities.

 

Drawing on the concepts you have learned this session, discuss what greening means and come up with one concrete suggestion for greening any neighborhood space. Think about tangible action steps that could be implemented to address all or part of the broader environmental problem (greening cities).