RCC
100-9: Environmental Politics & Activism
Fall
2005
229 Cornell
Social Sciences
M/W/F
&
Fridays
Professor: Dr. Michael Gunter
Office:
212 Cornell Hall
Office Hours: Mondays and
Wednesdays
Phone: 407-646-2263
Email: mgunter@rollins.edu
Web
address: http://web.rollins.edu/~mgunter/
Peer
Mentors: Melissa
Pawley Katherine Unger
mpawley@rollins.edu kunger@rollins.edu
One
of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up
being governed by your inferiors
- Plato
REQUIRED TEXTS
All
texts are available at the Rice Family Bookstore on campus except Adam Werbach’s Act Now,
Apologize Later. I recommend you
purchase this text from Amazon during orientation week:
Abbey, Edward. The Monkey Wrench Gang.
Allen, John L. (ed.). Annual
Editions: Environment 05/06.
Brower, David with
Steve Chapple. Let the Mountains Talk, Let the Rivers Run: A Call to Those Who Would
Save the Earth.
Brower, Michael and
Warren Leon. The Consumer’s Guide to Effective
Environmental Choices.
Strunk, William Jr. and E.B.
White. The Elements of Style.
Werbach, Adam.
Act Now, Apologize Later.
ADDITIONAL REQUIRED
In
addition to the above texts, there will be several pieces on reserve
at Olin Library here on campus. These
are noted below:
Carson, Rachel. Silent Spring.
Gibbs,
Lois Marie.
Mann,
Charles C. “1491,” The Atlantic
Monthly, March 2002, pp. 41-53.
Mann, Charles C. and Mark L. Plummer. Noah's Choice: The Future of Endangered
Species.
Orr, David W. Earth in Mind: On Education, Environment,
and the Human Prospect.
Ray, Dixy Lee
with Lou Guzzo. Environmental Overkill: Whatever Happened to Common Sense?
Sierra Club. Grassroots Organizing Training Manual.
Suarez,
Ray. The Old Neighborhood: What We
Lost in the Great Suburban Migration: 1966-1999.
United
States Environmental Protection Agency. Healthy
Lawn, Healthy Environment: Caring for Your Lawn in an Environmentally Friendly
Way.
United
States Environmental Protection Agency. Citizen’s
Guide to Pesticides.
Finally,
you are also expected to keep abreast of environmental events that may develop
over the course of the semester. The
starting point for our class will be the “Science Times” section in Tuesday
editions of The New York Times, which
will be required reading for each Wednesday class session. In general, it is a good habit to peruse
national daily newspapers such as The New York Times or The
Washington Post several times a week.
These are both available on the web at http://nytimes.com/
and http://www.washingtonpost.com/,
respectively. For first-year students,
free paper copies of The New York Times are
available at McKean, the Post Office, and Cornell Social Sciences. The website for Rollins’ New York Times Knowledge Network is: http://www.nytimes.com/college/. The Olin Library also holds daily paper
copies of The New York Times and the Sunday edition of The Washington
Post. A few other notable national
papers you may wish to consult are The Christian Science Monitor, The
Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, The Miami Herald, and The
Los Angeles Times and The Wall
Street Journal.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
American anthropologist
Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” This course will not solve the world’s
problems in a single semester by any means, but it will take such advice to
heart by analyzing the political landscape within a series of environmental
issues. Targeting case studies such as
air pollution, endangered species protection, energy consumption, garbage
disposal, national parks policy, and suburban sprawl, to name a few, this
course will ask both why environmental problems develop and how they might be
solved. We look at the various
governmental and non-governmental actors involved in this often very political
process. And we look at the institutions
in place that foster and frustrate environmental activism. Several class field trips will complement
these objectives.
COURSE EXPECTATIONS
In addressing these issues, there will be several writing assignments as well as essay exams in this course. Of all that you learn in college, writing is one of the most important. Regardless of your career goal, you will need to develop the skill of writing well. Writing also helps us learn. It focuses our thoughts and forces us to organize and document them. Much of the course, then, is built around developing practice at this craft.
Of
course, to develop as a writer you must also read a healthy amount, picking up
new styles, new approaches, and new words.
From my experience – a long, long time ago – one of the most difficult
tasks in college is managing your time, particularly when it comes to reading
loads in different courses. I cannot
emphasize enough the need to keep on schedule with your reading. Many classes will be conducted in a seminar
fashion where the quality of discussion will depend on your level of
preparation. Participation grades go
beyond mere attendance to incorporate both the quantity and quality of your
contributions to our class sessions.
Quizzes will appear throughout the semester and, as outlined below,
participation will play a key role in determining final grades, especially
border-line cases.
I
also want to call special attention to our “Fox Friday” meetings, which
normally occur during Friday afternoons but occasionally occur at another
specified time. As you see on the
schedule, these meetings cover a spectrum of events from social to academic in
focus. Please note that your attendance
is expected at each of these. Absences
will hurt your standing in the course.
As
college students you should be familiar with the term plagiarism. Any work that borrows wording, ideas, or even
organization from another source without appropriate acknowledgment is defined
as plagiarism. A general rule of thumb
is to cite any phrase that is not common knowledge and longer than four
words. Please see the attached sheet at
the end of this syllabus for more documentation here.
Finally,
and most importantly, I think of a course as being a contract between teacher
and student. My job is to do my best to
help you learn. Your side of the
agreement is to do your best to learn.
Coming to class prepared (doing the reading before class and
taking notes on that reading) goes a long way in this regard. You are also encouraged to not only ask
questions in class but also to take advantage of my office hours. Of course, our peer mentors Katherine and
Melissa are also available to help whenever you have questions or need
advice. We are extremely fortunate to
have such stellar peer mentors in this class. Take advantage of this perk.
GRADING POLICY:
Per the Rollins
College Catalogue, the grade report is based on the following definitions:
A
is reserved for work that is exceptional in quality and shows keen insight,
understanding, and initiative.
B
is given for work that is consistently superior and shows interest, effort, or
originality.
C
is a respectable grade required for graduation; it reflects consistent daily
preparation and satisfactory completion of all work required.
D-
is the lowest passing grade; it is below the average necessary to meet
graduation requirements and ordinarily is not accepted for transfer by other
institutions.
F is failing.
Grading
is based upon percentages that equate to the standard +/- system below:
A = 93 % and above A-
= 90-92
B+
= 87-89 B = 83-86 B- = 80-82
C+
= 77-79 C = 73-76 C- = 70-72
D+
= 67-69 D = 63-66 D- = 60-62 F = 59 and below
Unless another due date is announced in
class, you are responsible for turning in assignments on time before class
starts. This responsibility comes in two
parts. For one, you must turn in a hard
copy of your paper to me. For another,
you must submit an electronic copy to www.turnitin.com. Our class ID is “1149109”
and the class password is “honor.” Let
me know if you need any help with this but do be sure to complete this
requirement by the due date if you wish to receive credit for your paper. After class begins, assignments will be
considered late so do not skip class just to finish an assignment. Late assignments will be accepted until
GRADING DISTRIBUTION:
5% Current
Events Oral Report
10% Web Page Review
10% Weekly Quizzes
15% Short Editorial Responses (approx. 3)
15% Participation
20% Midterm
25% Final
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE
Orientation Week: Aug. 17/18/19/20
Wednesday:
Introduction/Group Student Advising
Meet RCC
Parents/Individual Advising Sessions
Thursday
morning: Environmental Discussion
“Science Times” section in Tuesday, Aug.
16th edition of The New York
Times (repeat each week)
Thursday
afternoon: Into Thin Air Discussion
Krakauer, Jon.
“Into Thin Air” Outside Magazine, Sept.
1996: http://outside.away.com/outside/destinations/199609/199609_into_thin_air_1.html
Summer Discussion Questions: http://www.rollins.edu/explorations/documents/IntoThinAirlettertostudents_000.pdf
Friday:
The Elements of Style
S/W: Introduction, I
Saturday:
RCC “Reach Out” Service Project (see attached Fox Friday schedule for such future events)
Week 1: Aug. 22/24/26
The
Nature of Environmental Issues
Brower: Intro, Pt. I
Devil or Angel 1 – How do you measure
up?” New Scientist,
Historical
Framework
Brower: Pt. II
The
Story of
RR: Gibbs, pp.1-66
Week 2: Aug.29/31/Sept.2
RR: Gibbs, pp.203-223
Gene Ayres, “A Little Rocket Fuel with Your Salad?” World Watch, Nov./Dec.2003 (AE
#28)
Chemical
Promiscuity (and Death in a
RR: Carson, Chpts.
1-3
S/W IV: Words and Expressions
Commonly Misused
Response
to Carson or Gibbs due
Film:
Trade Secrets - A Moyer’s Report on Chemical Industry
S/W V: An Approach to Style
Werbach: Section 9
Week 3: Sept.5/7/9
Labor
Day
Film:
American Experience - Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring
RR: Carson, Chpt. 17
Cooking the Frog - The Land Ethic
RR: Mann and Plummer, Chpt.
4
RR: Leopold, excerpt from A Sand County Almanac
The Wilderness Society, “Land Ethic” and
“About Aldo Leopold”: http://www.wilderness.org/AboutUs/ethic.cfm?TopLevel=About
http://www.wilderness.org/AboutUs/Leopold.cfm?TopLevel=About
Part II:
The Players
& The Process
Week 4: Sept.12/14/16
Congressional
Consensus and Gridlock
The US Constitution, Article I: http://www.house.gov/Constitution/Constitution.html
Werbach: Section 2
RR: Vig and Kraft, Chpt. 6
“I’m Just a
Bill”: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Bill.html
Executive Decisions & The Bureaucracy
Brower: Pt. III
The
RR: Vig and Kraft, Chpt. 5
The Role of the Courts
Werbach: Section 3
The US Constitution, Article III: http://www.house.gov/Constitution/Constitution.html
RR: Vig and Kraft, Chpt. 7
Week 5: Sept. 19/21/23
Film:
Deep Jungle
Werbach: Section 4
Olin Library Research workshop with Bill Svitavsky
Werbach: Section 5
CPR for the Earth
Brower:
Pt. IV, Pt. V
Week 6: Sept.26/28/30
Organizing the Grassroots
Werbach: Intro,
Section 1
RR: Excerpts from Sierra Club’s Grassroots
Organizing Training Manual
Mia MacDonald, “Something Wonderful
Happens when You Plant a Seed: Interview with Wangari
Maathai, 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Winner” Sierra, March/April 2005, pp.10-11: http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200503/interview.asp
Environmental Justice
Werbach: Conclusion
See TNC Photo Essay at: http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/canada/work/art14771.html
Skim Lion’s Gate films website: http://www.grizzlymanmovie.com/grizzly.html
Scott Foundas, Variety:
Environmental Education &
Sustainability at
Werbach: Section 6
RR: David Orr,
“What is Education for?” (chapter 1) in Earth in Mind (1994)
RR:
Part III: Case
Studies
Week 7: Oct. 3/5/7
Midterm Exam
Nuclear Energy….and Waste
RR:
Taking Sides, Issue 15, “
Office of
Civilian Radioactive Waste Management: http://www.ocrwm.doe.gov/
http://www.sierraclub.org/pressroom/releases/pr2004-09-28.asp
http://missouri.sierraclub.org/sierranonline/julyaugust2002/06YuccaMountainstorybyHengerson.HTM
Environmental
Defense, “Questions and Answers on Nuclear Power” with chief scientist Dr. Bill
Chameides,
Fall
Break
Film:
American Experience:
Werbach: Section 7
http://www.progress-energy.com/aboutenergy/powerplants/FLA02061CRNEmerBrowe.pdf
Progress Energy
Nuclear Plants:
http://www.progress-energy.com/aboutenergy/powerplants/nuclear.asp
Alternative Energy Options
Antonia
Herzog et al. “Renewable Energy: A Viable Choice,” Environment, Dec.2001 (AE
14)
Bill
Keenan, “Hydrogen: Waiting for the Revolution,” Across the Board, May/June 2004 (AE 15)
NOVA:
Science Now – Hydrogen Fuel Cells: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3210/01.html
Career Services Presentation @ Bush 108
Sierra Club: http://www.sierraclub.org/wildlands/Yellowstone/news.asp
http://www.sierraclub.org/wildlands/Yellowstone/
RR: Daniel L. Dustin and Ingrid E. Schneider,
“The Science of Politics/The Politics of Science: Examining the Snowmobile
Controversy in
Week 9: Oct. 17/19/21
Our
National Parks: Snowmobiles in
National Parks Conservation Association: http://www.npca.org/across_the_nation/visitor_experience/motorized_abuse/snowmobiles.asp
NPS Letter to Interior Secretary
Norton (courtesy of The Wilderness Society):
http://www.wilderness.org/Library/Documents/Former_NPS_Officials_Letter_Yellowstone.cfm
Listen
to “Judge Halts Yellowstone Snowmobile Plan,” Morning Edition,
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1551375
Film: Nova - Fire Wars
The Wilderness
Society, “Wildland Fire: Returning Fire to Wildland Ecosystems in a Socially Acceptable Manner”: http://www.wilderness.org/OurIssues/Wildfire/index.cfm?TopLevel=Home
Harper’s
Magazine: http://www.betterworldclub.com/articles/Harpers2002may.htm
Suburban Sprawl
Werbach:
Section 8
Sierra
Club’s Sprawl Overview: http://www.sierraclub.org/sprawl/overview/
Play with
examples at: http://www.sierraclub.org/sprawl/community/transformations/index.asp
Donella H. Meadows,
“So What Can We Do – Really Do – About Sprawl?” The Global Citizen,
CNN Special,
“Where We Live:
Film:
Web of Life: Exploring Biodiversity
RR: Suarz,
Chpt. 1
NYT-based
editorial due
Biodiversity
Edward O.
Wilson, “What is Nature Worth?,” The Wilson Quarterly, Winter 2002 (AE #16)
Dave Simon, “Biodiversity in the National Parks: Looming
Threats to
Endangered Species Act: Tellico Dam vs.
the Snail Darter
RR: Mann and Plummer: Chpt.
6 - The Awful Beast is Back,
Noah's Choice: The
Future of Endangered Species
TNC,
“Hope is the Thing with Feathers”: http://nature.org/aboutus/about/art15440.html
TNC, “Ivory-billed Woodpecker Fact
Sheet,”
Week 11: Oct.31/Nov.2/4
Registration
Advising
Conceptualizing
Wilderness
RR: Mann, “1491,” The Atlantic Monthly
The Wilderness
Society, About Us: http://www.wilderness.org/AboutUs/index.cfm?TopLevel=About
Our
vision: http://www.wilderness.org/AboutUs/vision.cfm?TopLevel=About
Our
history: http://www.wilderness.org/AboutUs/history.cfm?TopLevel=About
Thursday
evening: TPJ Visiting Speaker Bill Meadows, President
of the Wilderness Society
Roundtable discussion with Mr. Bill
Meadows, President, The Wilderness Society
Bill
Meadows Biography: http://www.wilderness.org/AboutUs/meadows-bio.cfm
Skim rest of
website: http://www.wilderness.org/
Land Ethic Toolbox: http://www.wilderness.org/AboutUs/LandEthicToolbox/Introduction.cfm?TopLevel=About
Week 12: Nov. 7/9/11
ANWR
Bill Meadows response due
RR: Taking Sides, Issue #7
RR: Rebecca Solnit, “The New Gold Rush,” Sierra, July/August
2000 (not available electronically)
http://www.sierraclub.org/wildlands/arctic/
Environmental
Defense ANWR Fact Sheet: http://www.environmentaldefense.org/documents/1533_ANWRenergyFactSheet.htm
Recycling Pros and Cons
RR:
Taking Sides: Issue 14
RR:
John Tierney, “Recycling is Garbage,” New
York Times Magazine,
Food Fight: The Truth About
GMOs
RR:
Taking Sides, Issue 9
Craig Holdrege and Steve Talbott, “Brave New Nature:
Sowing Technology,” Sierra, July/Aug.
2001: http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200107/talbott.asp
Karen Charman, “Brave New Nature: Spinning Science into Gold,” Sierra, July/Aug. 2001: http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200107/charman.asp
Week 13: Nov. 14/16/18
Film:
Harvest of Fear: A Frontline/Nova
Special
Abbey: pp.1-80
Barbara Keeler, “Brave New
Nature: A Nation of Lab Rats,” Sierra,
July/Aug. 2001: http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200107/keeler.asp
Alien
Invasion
Jeffrey A. McNeely, “Strangers in Our
Midst: The Problem of Invasive Alien Species,” Environment, July/Aug.2004 (AE
#17)
RR: Christopher Bright, “Invasive
Species: Pathogens of Globalization,” Foreign
Policy, Fall 1999 (see reserves for POL 333)
Garbage
Case Study
Brower/Leon: Chpts.
1, 2
Abbey: pp.81-153
Part IV: What
You Can Do
Week 14: Nov.21
Household
Consumption
Brower/Leon: Chpt.
3
Abbey: 154-227
Thanksgiving
Break
Making
a Difference
Brower/Leon: Chpts.
4, 5, 6
Getting
Government to Work
Brower/Leon: Chpt.
7
Abbey: 228-346
Semester Review
Brower/Leon Epilogue: From Walden to
Wal-Mart
Devil or Angel 2 – Is one planet enough?”
New Scientist,
* Typical Fox Friday
events are at the standard time, Friday at
POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
The Political Science Department of Rollins
College is committed to the principle of active learning. For us, this means that learning cannot take
place without students' active involvement in, commitment to, and
responsibility for, their own education.
Hence it is important that students conduct themselves in ways that
indicate respect for the learning community and the learning process. While it is difficult to specify precisely
what this means in all cases, at the very least it entails coming to class on
time and being prepared to remain in one's seat for the duration
of the class period. Respect for the learning community and the
learning process would normally exclude persistent lateness, leaving the
classroom during class time, and/or falling asleep in class. We also ask that you turn off all cell phones
while in the classroom. Finally, we consider being habitually unprepared for
class to be a violation of the learning community and a form of academic
dishonesty.
DOCUMENTATION
Here are a few simple rules about
quotations, paraphrases, and plagiarism.
Learn them and practice them.
1. "When you copy the words of
another, put those words inside quotation marks, and acknowledge
the source with a footnote."
2. "When you paraphrase another's
words, use your own words and your own sentence structure, and be sure to use a
footnote giving the source of the idea."
3. "A plagiarist often merely changes
a few words or simply rearranges the words in the source."
Source:
Plagiarized work will result at the
very least in a grade of "0" on the paper assignment, and such an
event will be reported to the Dean of the College, as per our college policies.
Environmental
Politics & Activism
Fox Friday Schedule
Orientation:
Sat., Aug. 20 RCC Project Reach
Out @ Genius Reserve,
Week
1: Fri., Aug. 26 Tubing
on
Inclement
Weather Backup: Ice Skating with Great Journey’s RCC
Week
2: Fri., Sept.
Week
3: Fri., Sept. 9 All RCC Event on
Field House @
Week 4: Thurs.,
Sept. 15 Lady from
Wee