Peter Gleik's Transition To A Sustainable System

The essay, “The Environmental Crisis: The Devil Is in the Generalities” by Ross McKitrick, points out the simple fact that most of the population is so overwhelmed by the environmental propaganda offered in the media that they do not seek to understand the factual science behind the messages. McKitrick highlights the fact that there exists a general belief that the condition of the environment has been deteriorating over the past years; however, he then references much scientific data that refutes this claim. His use of these scientific references reinforces his position as an environmental economist, and therefore; a specialist whom one should believe and trust. While he is an environmental economist, he argues that the term “environment”

The article “Water Works”, published by Orion Magazine and written by environmental specialist Cynthia Barnett intends to inform the reader anyone can make water an important factor. Overlooking it has become common many people in the United States have adapted to through the changes that have occurred in society over time. At the beginning of her article, she describes an area that does not make water care a priority, whereas in another location they make it very evident water is important. The location she describes is gloomy, grey, and is a populated area that has old water systems that are damaging environmental factors. Barnett continuously emphasizes that people are the ones who can help restore nature. This is at a less cost than

Even if the future water supply still contains a significant amount of water, it will most likely be unsuitable to support human growth and expansion. According to Pickens, if we keep using natural underground water at such a quick rate, it will take much longer to remake then it took to use the amount of water in the first place. Even if there is still enough water, it will not be suitable for human needs (Pickens). Water will only continue to run out at a quicker pace then it will renew. Pickens says, water is the new oil. This basically means compromises had to be made and new methods had to be made in order to preserve and keep the oil supply plenished. This now means that compromises will need to be made to conserve and keep the sanitary water supply plenished. There are many ways to protect the future water supply and help the growth of the human population in both urban and rural areas.

In sustainability: The New Holy Grail, Miller argues that people who question the United States ability to become more sustainable devalue American innovation. The arguments made throughout his article however seem one sided and aggressive. Millers out view on things are from a religious outlook making his points seem unreliable.

Among all of the resources in the world, there is one that we do not often consider to be diminishing. The masses take this resource, water, for granted. When the average person takes a single look at a world map, they see multiple blue oceans covering the Earth. But, although we are surrounded by water, our clean water reserves dwindle rapidly. In her article, “Water Works”, Cynthia Barnett attempts to bring this issue to greater light and offers her own solutions. While I agree with many of Barnett’s points, she fails to look at the arguments of her detractors to the detriment of her already flawed case.

In the introduction to Sustainability, Christian R. Weisser explains that sustainability is the ability for an item or idea to be maintained long-term. Specifically, Weisser describes that sustainability is the related to the correlation between human society and environmental degradation. As Weisser puts it, “as communities grow, the environment often declines” this addresses the cause and affects the human society has on the world and how understanding and using sustainability can fix that problem. For example, Weisser gives the use of disposal of aluminum cans, and how human society has advanced to reuse these resources and apply this to improve the future. Weisser insists that not only does sustainability show the relation

It is apparent that in David Orr’s essay, “Two Meanings of Sustainability,” his views of technological sustainability and ecological sustainability fall beneath two distinct archetypes, as defined by Robert Vos in “Defining sustainability: A conceptual orientation”. Textual evidence outlining Orr’s views and beliefs in regard to each type of sustainability can be found in both the assigned reading and additional works written by him. This evidence allows for a direct connection to be made between his views and one of the archetypes of Vos’ Matrix. His views on technological sustainability fall beneath the thin version of the archetype “role of technology” whilst his beliefs in regard to ecological sustainability fall beneath the thick

According to Aboriginal people, sustainability is perceived as an integral component when it comes to protecting the environment. The relationship between human rights and environmental issues and rights demonstrates the need to formulate a new human right to water rights. John Barry and Kerri Woods discuss the relationship between environmental right and human rights. They question “the assumed compatibility between human right and the environment.” Barry and Woods notice that people are often willing to choose human rights at the expense of the environment. It is problematic that people who are in favour of human rights would not agree that the environment should be protected. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) clearly recognizes the importance of protecting the environment for the fulfillment and enjoyment of human rights. It is important to add environmental rights to the human rights discourse because people have a duty to future generations.

is suboptimal and that much action is to be taken to avoid our planet to be

At the core of Adam Frankel’s “Sustainability?,” a long list of applications, each application accompanied by a brief description of its function, lies the idea that environmentalism is about acting to feel good, a form of thinking called consequentialism, the aesthetic thought. Morton’s ecological thought refutes consequentalism as a viable method for environmentalism as that form of thought will fail to spark large-scale ecological action. Frankel’s consequentialism is evident as under every description is the title “Why we need it,” emphasis on the “we” (Frankel). Instead of saying “you,” knowing the app is directed at a single reader at a time, the fact that Frankel uses “we” instead of “you” begs the question: who is “we” referring to? By using “we,” Frankel brings the rest of humanity into why a person would “need” to download this app, suggesting that the person needs to download the app because “we,” the rest of humanity, needs the reader to do so; the reader is doing what “we” wants, the reader submitting to the wills of others, the will of the bigger crowd and thus the greater good, making him or her feel as though he or she is a part of something bigger, making him or her feel good as a result of that. Moreover, many of the apps listed in the article have benefits other than being sustainable, such as “feel[ing] more invested in their communities,” being “cool[],” “reduc[ing] gas emissions and fuel costs,” “reward[ing] users for recycling” and other ecological

Global sustainability is multi-faceted topic and is very complex. However, at its essence, global sustainability is defined as using your resources wisely today to give your children a better life tomorrow. It is the balance between using enough to develop right now but leaving enough for future generations. For example, if we were only looking at preserving the environment and not developing it, we might use none of the resources and leave them to be. But the problem with that is that then there is no resources for us to use. On the other hand, if we were just looking to develop the land, we would use all of our resources, but then there would be no more left for the future. Thus, I want our

What is known about the bodies of water on this planet is that 97% of all water on earth is salt water, which is not suitable for drinking. Only 3% of all the water is fresh and only 1% is available for drinking, which leaves only 2% of the available fresh water sources lock in ice caps and glaciers. However, with the growing population rate and such a small percentage of all the water on earth, it only makes sense that we must preserve and conserve these precious resources (Evans). According to UNEP senior director Klaus Toepfer, “ history provided grim reminders that failure to manage water resources properly has caused the end of civilizations – in Mesopotamia, but also in other countries, such as Ethiopia, where the ancient civilization of Aksum collapse – partly because of deforestation and its consequent water-related impacts”

Living on a planet covered by 71% water makes it easy to be unappreciative of such a valuable resource. Humanity hasn’t just relied on water to live, but also to make advances to society. Overtime, humans have progressively learned how to use water more and more efficiently to fit their needs. Water has had an immense impact on human history, religion, and science. Water has been crucial to human history.

1. I do not believe that the world is truly flat; this is my position. I believe that there is a kind of potential for the world to be flat, but there are a myriad of social stratifications that exist across societies around the world that make "flatness" of the world unlikely. For me to side with Friedman in that the world is flat, I would need to be presented with proof that the world is more equal than it is. One of the arguments against Friedman's ideas is his lack of substantial data in his book.

Although humans know they are slowly damaging the environment in which they need to survive, they continue to do so. Dale (2001) asserts that it may be as a result of feeling powerless to reverse the situation; therefore their efforts are often futile. In order to truly see sustainable change, Dale (2001) believes there must be collaboration between different levels of government, and aggressive action taken. Throughout the book, Dale (2001) looks at sustainable development through three main lenses: ecological, social, and economic. She asserts that each lens is different, but equal in importance to make a more sustainable future (Dale, 2001). Although this book was written in the context of both Canada and the larger global society, I feel that Dale’s (2001) lessons are relevant to the United States, and are worth sharing for this book report project. Further, based on the examples of cities we have studied so far in Green Government Initiatives, it seems as though many cities are following her advice. This book review will consist of a further look at the three main components of sustainable development mentioned above, examples of how cities in America are applying the concepts, and will conclude with recommendations for the future.