Human Domination of Earth's Ecosystems - Section #9
This section focuses on the impacts that humans generate on ecosystems, including land, oceans, and biogeochemical cycles. It centers around the idea of human functions causing change on the earth, resulting in a loss of biodiversity. This piece argues that the most substantial human change to the earth is land transformation, which ultimately influences all other aspects of the land system. Land transformation is linked to local and regional levels of climate change. The authors suggest that land transformation needs to be looked at on a broad scale in order to promote positive land transformation practices. Ocean systems are also touched on, pointing out the large scale and destructive practices of the fishing industry. Fisheries often fish predator species, or over fish the resources, which both lead to imbalances in marine ecosystems. This reading emphasizes that humans are responsible for the impacts on earth's ecosystems, and in a sense humans are holding the planet's future in their hands. Finally, the reading points out that the negative results from human activities are issues that society needs to confront now and efficiently.
Could Food Shortages Bring Down Civilization? - Section #25
This article from the textbook discusses the risks of food shortages on a variety of levels, while looking at the impacts of environmental decline and the lack of intention to restore the environment. Author Lester Brown highlights the case of failing states (nations), determining that states fail when the national government cannot provide fundamental security. Brown emphasizes that when a state fails it becomes increasingly dangerous since they threaten political stability on both a local and global scale. When a state fails there is often an increase in terrorism, drug use and trafficking, weapon distribution, and refugees. The case of a failed state is tied to the issue of food shortages. When a state or nation cannot produce or import enough food for its people then it begins to loose stability. Also related is the inflation of food prices, if a food product increases in price less wealthy states cannot afford to buy, and therefore leads to the case of a failed state. Another issue that Brown focuses on is the consumption of freshwater for irrigation purposes. He points out that water is being depleted and cannot be replenished quick enough to sustain food systems in today's world. Through a series of shocking examples Brown is able to emphasize the negative impacts of modern food production and how these practices are not sustainable. Ultimately, Brown provides a variety of solutions that can help reduce the impacts of shortages for the future.
Women's Indigenous Knowledge and Biodiversity Conservation - Section #37
This reading is a small portion taken from a larger compilation by author Vandana Shiva. Shiva identifies the connection between women and diversity, emphasizing that both enable each other. A part of this reading focuses on the evolution of monocultures and uniform production, which Shiva argues hinder biodiversity. She makes it clear that nature's diversity is not accepted, and therefore it is exploited and degraded. Shiva uses examples to compliment her arguments, without creating a bias opinion. A strong example that she uses is the displacement of indigenous people in third world nations through the practices of progressiveness and technology. A Westernized view is being pushed on these groups and they are not being given the option to accept it or decline it. Instead they are stripped of their rights and forced to adapt to a foreign lifestyle. Shiva highlights that it is the women in indigenous tribes that maintain the biodiversity of the natural world, contributing to dairy, forestry, and plant and food production. Since women's values are being disregarded the biodiversity is disregarded as well. Shiva suggests that to preserve biodiversity women must be valued, and for women to be valued biodiversity must be preserved.
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