2. Final Assignment (25 pts)
Think back to everything we've discussed this semester and pick ONE of
the following prompts.
Final project
3. Research report:
Find a current article to think critically about. It could be related to one of
the topics we’ve discussed in class or another related topic. Then, write a
report (600-900 words). In your report, cover the following points:
•Why did you choose this topic? (5 pts)
•Describe the topic in detail. (5 pts)
•How does the topic relate to the ideas in the article? (5 pts)
•Make it interesting and engaging… maybe even fun. (5 pts)
•Include a works cited page.
Final project (cont.)
4. Ten minute video:
Record a ten-minute presentation, complete with visuals (PowerPoint or
similar) on a topic from the class or another related topic. In your
presentation, cover the following points:
•Why did you choose this topic? (5 pts)
•Describe the topic in detail. (5 pts)
•How can you use the topic in everyday life (use specific examples)? (5 pts)
•Make it interesting and engaging… maybe even fun. (5 pts)
•Include a works cited page.
Final project (cont.)
5. Creative Interpretation:
Interpret a topic from this class or another related topic through a creative
art (painting, poetry, song, dance, design etc.). You will receive 5 points
based on the effort and skill displayed in the artistic interpretation. Include a
one page (300 word) written explanation of the relationship between your
interpretation and your topic of choice.
•Why did you choose this topic? (5 pts)
•How is your creative work an interpretation of this topic? (5 pts)
•Make it interesting and engaging… maybe even fun. (5 pts)
•Include a works cited page.
Final project (cont.)
6. • After submitting your final assignment, you will write a 300 word reply (5
pts) to the submission after yours in the forum.
• Start by briefly thanking the author and saying something positive about
the journal you are commenting on. Then respond. You could extend the
idea, apply it to your life, fill in details, describe a similar situation, or give
a critique. Finally, end by again saying something positive about the
paper and summarizing your comment in a sentence or two. Be
respectful! The goal is to learn from the exchange, and everyone involved
should grow from the back and forth.
Final project (cont.)
7. • Modern human activity has had, and is having, a substantial negative
effect on the earth, leading to an unprecedented heating of the earth’s
surface. Thus, thinking critically today must take the ecological
dimensions of our existence much more seriously
Climate change
8. • Climate change is the warming of the earth due to human activity after
the industrial revolution causing an immense increase in carbon
emissions resulting in large, dangerous, and unprecedented shifts in
weather patterns
Climate change (cont.)
9. • The largest contributor to climate change is the emissions of CO2 (carbon
dioxide) and methane from burning fossil fuels, particularly coal, oil, and
natural gas
• In addition to fossil fuels, food consumption, especially meat, and
deforestation of trees for resources and making space for other uses have
been huge contributors to climate change as well
Climate change (cont.)
10. • Climate change has caused an increase in wildfires, floods, droughts,
food insecurity, water insecurity, serious human health risks (heat related
deaths, respiratory issues, etc.) migration and displacement, temperature
rising, changing, rising sea levels, extinctions of plants and animals
Climate change (cont.)
11. • So, what should we start thinking critically about given the climate crisis?
• Considering resource consumption in our contemporary world is crucial.
We should always ask ourselves, how much resources are being used in
this activity? Many examples of questions on pg. 345
• Furthermore, economists tend to talk a lot about growth. However,
growth generally results in greater resource consumption. Given
ecological considerations, should economic growth be encouraged at all?
Climate change (cont.)
12. • Pollution is another major issue confronting us; carbon compounds
released into the air have been one of the driving forces behind climate
change. There are also other forms of population such as plastics,
carcinogens, pesticides, fertilizers, radiation, artificial sound and light and
so much more…
• It is important to ask whether a particular activity is highly pollutant, and
seek ways to pollute significantly less
Climate change (cont.)
13. • How do we insure that we tackle these ecological issues?
• How should we curb resource consumption? Take fossil fuels for
instance. How do we effectively end our society’s dependence on fossil
fuels? Can we even do this? What about people whose livelihoods
depends on the fossil fuel industry, like coal workers? What about water?
How do we manage our water usage?
• How best should we curb pollution? All use public transportation? Stop
using plastic packaging? How can we be more sustainable?
Critical thinking about climate change
14. • And, what about compromises?
• We often hear of more revolutionary groups advocating against a middle
of the road climate policy. However, it sometimes seems the revolutionary
alternative does not have enough support—what should be done?
• Should the less radical and underwhelming legislation be supported?
What if this gives a false sense of security and real change is not
enacted? But what if real benefits can be derived from this middle of the
road legislation? Are activists expecting too much given the situation of
our current society?
Critical thinking about climate change (cont.)
15. • What can we do ourselves? Carpooling? Reduced personal
consumption….no straws, plastic, plant based diets, household energy
use, flying in planes? Is that is enough?
• What can we not do by ourselves? Improve public transportation
infrastructure? End fracking? Ban plastic? Cut military budget? Are these
even possible?
Critical thinking about climate change (cont.)
16. • The areas most effected by climate change and environmental degradation
have been poor communities of color, both in the west and in the Third
World
• It is important to note that adverse environmental impacts are not
distributed equally but have a disproportionate effect on those whose social
position is already subject to other forms marginalization and violence
Environmental racism
17. • Examples of environmental racism are the targeting of communities of
color as places for the dumping of hazardous waste leading to the
highest concentration of air pollution (especially particulate matter, or
soot)
• These communities do not have the economic, social, or political power
to fight the large corporations and governments that are the ones
targeting them
Environmental racism (cont.)
18. • The advanced industrial countries (Global North) have largely caused the
crisis, but poor developing countries (Global South, or Third World) have
largely suffered the consequences
• This is because they do not have the resources to address the immediate
effects of disasters linked to climate crisis.
• That being said, who should pay for the solutions that could remedy
climate change?
Environmental racism (cont.)
19. • Evidence also suggests that the environmental impacts of climate change
have a disproportionate effect on women
Impact of climate change on women
20. • In much of the developing world, women are highly dependent upon the
local natural resources for agricultural and farming purposes; drought,
flooding, natural disasters put women, their families, and their livelihoods
in an even more precarious situation
• Women have historically played less of a role in the decision making
processes on how to deal with climate change, even though women have
many solutions to issues brought about by climate change as in many
societies they are the major source of knowledge regarding water and
food security and resource management
Impact of climate change on women (cont.)
21. • Critically thinking about ecological impacts will involve thinking about
who will bear those impacts the most and this will bring up other critical
thinking ideas we’ve discussed such as race, gender, as well as class,
which we will talk about next week
Critical thinking about climate change
22. • “What we choose is always the better; and nothing can be better for us
unless it is better for all. Our responsibility is thus much greater than we
had supposed, for it concerns mankind as a whole.” - Existentialism is a
Humanism, Sartre
From Monday
23. • Think back to our science week. In what ways has our understanding of
science and nature created the climate crisis we are in? In what ways,
has our culture contributed to the problems at hand rather than help us?
• Nevertheless, how might science help us in solving the climate crisis?
• What cultural changes need to be made to reassess the organizing
principles of our society?
Science and culture
24. • The way western science was introduced via colonization led to the
erasure of much of the science being practiced in the world prior to
colonization
• It is important to note the limitations of this science
The importance of indigenous knowledge
25. • Indigenous peoples know a great deal about the land that they have
cared and tended to prior to colonization and continue to tend to today
• Not only is the scientific knowledge of indigenous peoples crucial to
solving the climate crisis, but the ethical perspective is crucial as well
• Climate change is not just a science issue, it is a values issue
The importance of indigenous knowledge (cont.)
