Earth protection....

"Bolivia will this month table a draft United Nations treaty giving "Mother Earth" the same rights as humans — having just passed a domestic law that does the same for bugs, trees and all other natural things in the South American country."

Several questions can be raised; among them are whether this type of 'statement' has merit or value, even inspirational or educative value, and whether a body of nations with unimaginable diversity can have sufficient "pull" with other nations to make such a thing "work" in practice.  What will be the everyday effect of the resolution, and to what extent can we be said be able to obey it?

More later....

Partial agreement in Japan leaves biodiversity status uncertain

But, at the very least, the question is raised, and is worth discussing.  Article is here.

Class #8, 10/18/10

**Rosters, etc.


**Due:
----->Write: What explanation/solution to the reality of populations on earth seems most reasonable to you: Hardin's, McKibben's or Kasun's?


**An update on diversity of life:  http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/10/18/destroying-earth-conference-claims/


**Tonight's Discussion:  "Population and Consumption"--selections from chapter 7--

----->Bill McKibben, "A special moment in history," pp 378ff;

----->Jacqueline Kasun, "The unjust war against population," pp 399-412.


----->Visuals for McKibben & Kasun:  https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1tJqq4UDv3oB7oTG92CYwf4lWPL8sAnzjOTV4hTCNqfA&pli=1

----->----->See the video with Kasun here: http://www.mefeedia.com/news/22136041 


**For 10/25/10:  Readings from Chapter 8, "Food Ethics"--
----->Garrett Hardin, "Lifeboat Ethics," pp 443ff
----->Murdoch and Oaten, "Critique of Lifeboat Ethics," pp 452ff
----->Jonathan Rauch, "Can Frankenfood save the Planet?" pp 476ff
----->M.A. Fox, "Vegetarianism and Treading Lightly on the Earth," pp 496ff

----->Please write--Would you consider giving up meat entirely? Explain your answer.

And speaking of conservation, ...

...did you read about the enormous alligator hunted and killed by a woman in the Carolinas, during the gator hunting season?

A world without pandas...

... if this fellow would have his way. Read the article. What are your feelings?