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Chapter 1 |
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There is cause for concern about the general condition of the global environment. What are four global trends that are of particular concern?
Sharp contrasts exist in the way in which different peoples of the world interact with their environments. Give a range of contrasting "pictures" supporting this statement.
Sustainable development is now a broadly accepted ideal. How do different disciplines address sustainable development?
Stewardship represents the ethical and moral framework that should inform our public and private actions. How can stewardship be applied to the natural world and to concerns for justice?
Sound science is the basis for understanding how the world works and how human systems interact with it. What are the distinctive characteristics of science and the scientific method?
Science occurs within a community of scientists. How does this community function to prevent the occurrence of poor, or "junk," science?
History is a saga of rises and falls of civilizations. What are the factors that brought about the collapse of the Easter Island civilization? Are there any parallels in the present?
Even though most modern countries have environmental protection laws, it is clear that those laws are not working very well. Give some examples of how nations have acted through self-interest, rather than through concern for the environment. Comment on the possible reasons for those actions
If sustainability is the practical goal toward which we should be working, what steps do we need to take in the twenty-first century? What is meant by sustainability? For a sustainable society, what are the principal prerequisites?
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