ESS

Environment
System
Societies
“Earthrise”
taken by
Apollo 8
mission on 24
Dec. 1968
HISTORICAL INFLUENCES ON THE MODERN
ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENTS
1956, Minamata disease

1962, Silent Spring by Rachel Carson

1970 foundation of local and international pressure groups, Greenpeace

1972, Club of Rome publish The Limits of Growth

1979, Gaia hypothesis by James Lovelock

1984, Bhopal disaster

1986, Chernobyl disaster

1987, Our Common Future by UN

1992, UN’s Earth Summit

2006, Inconvenient Truth

2010, Deepwater Horizon oil spill

2011, Fukashima nuclear accident

1956 Minamata disease
In Minamata, Japan
Release of methyl mercury into the waste water by a
chemical factory.
Mercury accumulated in fish
Fish were eaten by the population and cause
mercury poisoning
Symptoms: neurological effects, damage to hearing,
speech, vision, muscle weakness, insanity, paralysis,
death
1962 Silent Spring by Rachel Carson

Almost 30 years after its publication, the book Silent

Spring is instantly recognized,

She highlighted the effects and bioaccumulation of

pesticides on population of predatory birds.

The book brought public attention to the use of

pesticides and ban of DDT.
1975 SAVE THE WHALES
Foundation of local and international pressure
groups
Raising the concept of stewardship (the belief that
every person has a responsibility to look after the
planet for themselves and for future generations)
Greenpeace was founded against whale catching
This eventually developed into “Save the Whale”
campaign.
1979 GAIA HYPOTHESIS
According to James Lovelock’s theory Earth
behaves/seems as a single organism.
Gaia is a complex existence which covers
atmosphere, biosphere, oceans and lands in
the Earth.
Gaia works to maintain optimal physical and
chemical conditions to maintain continuum of
life.
“Biota” is the feedback system that regulates
this process.
1979 GAIA HYPOTHESIS

Bases of “Gaia Hypothesis;

Surface temperature remains constant although the
heat energy maintained from the sun increases(%25-
%30 from the beginning)
Salinity content rate is constant in oceans
Composition of atmosphere is constant
1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy
The Bhopal disaster or Bhopal gas tragedy was an industrial
disaster that took place at a Union Carbide pesticide plant in
the Indian city of Bhopal.
At midnight on 3 December 1984, the plant (accidentally)
released an estimated 42 tonnes of toxic methyl isocyanate
(MIC) gas, exposing more than 500,000 people to MIC and
other chemicals.
The first official immediate death toll was 2,259.
The government of Madhya Pradesh has confirmed a total of
3,787 deaths related to the gas release.
Others estimate 8,000-10,000 died within 72 hours and
25,000 have since died from gas-related diseases.
 1986 Chernobyl
The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear reactor
accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the
Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine
It is considered to be the worst nuclear power plant
disaster in history and the only level 7 event on the
International Nuclear Event Scale.
It resulted in a severe release of radioactivity
following a massive power excursion that destroyed
the reactor.
Most deaths from the accident were caused by
radiation poisoning.
2006 an ınconvenıent truth
U.S. Vice President Al
Gore did a
presentation on global
warming to increase
awareness worldwide.
Presentation was very
effective so the film
“An Inconvenient
Truth” based on this
presentation came to
the big screen.
2010 deepwater horızon oıl spıll

Oil poured out of a ruptured drilling rig deep

below the sea in the Gulf of Mexico for three
months.

The oil caused damage to marine and wildlife

ecosystems, as well as fishing and tourism.
 2011 FUKASHIMA NUCLEAR
ACCIDENT
Fukashima is the largest nuclear accident
since Chernobyl.
The power station of plant was hit by waves
of sea water almost 15 m high and they were
not prepared for such high waves.
By the end of 2011, Japanese authorities
declared that the plant is stable.
None of the workers died according to reports
1.1. Environmental Value Systems and
Philosophies

An environmental value system is the “world

view” or set of paradigms that shapes the
ways individuals and groups approach
environmental issues.

Environmental values may differ in different

countries and cultures.
 There are inputs that influence it and outputs
come from it:

Inputs: Outputs:
Media Attitudes
Religion Decisions
Education Human world view Perspectiv
Culture e
Politics Action
Science Politics

Avoid stereotypes and simplistic

classifications!!!!!!!
 DECISION MAKING &
ENVIRONMENTAL PHILOSOPHIES
Important environmental issues
 DECISION MAKING &
ENVIRONMENTAL PHILOSOPHIES
Important environmental issues
Acid rain
Use of water resources
Use of fossil fuels
Climate change
Ecological footprints
The demand for water resources

ECOCENTRIC against TECHNOCENRIC

The demand for water resources
 Climate change

ECOCENTRIC against TECHNOCENRIC

Climate change
Ecological footprints

ECOCENTRIC against TECHNOCENRIC

 Ecological footprints
Measure of human demand on ecological systems
called ecological footprint.

For balanced ecosystem!!

Ecological footprint < Biologically productive area
 EVSs are divided into three main
categories:
Ecocentric (Nature-centred)
Antropocentric (Human-centred)
Technocentric (Technology-centred)
 Environmental Value
Systems

Ecocentrism Antropocentrism Technocentrism

Deep ecologists Self-reliance soft Environmental Cornucopians

ecologists managers

It is hard to classify real people in one of these categories strictly. Do not

forget that politicial, spiritual philosophical perspectives affect people
EVS’s.
Ecocentrism (Nature-Centred)
Holistic view
Spiritual, social and environmental
dimensions
Sustainability of Earth resources
Global citizenship
Self-control on resource use
Antropocentrism(Human-centred)
People manage the sustainability of global
systems.
Population control balances resource use.
Strong regulation by independent authority.
MEDC’s(More Economically Developed
Countries) view.
Technocentrism(Technology-centred)
Technology can provide solutions to environmental
problems
By technological developments, resource depletion
problem may solved
Understanding natural problems by reasons of them is
essential to control them
Scientific analysis/prediction policy
Market and economic growth are at the centre
 Remember...

Environmental Value
Systems

Ecocentrism Antropocentrism Technocentrism

Deep ecologists Self-reliance soft Environmental Cornucopians

ecologists managers
 Deep ecologists
Spiritual revolution to solve environmental
problems
Nature is at the centre
Equal rights to species
Ecological laws are prior
Species or unique landscapes have right to
remain unmolested (Biorights)
Deep ecologist

Arne Næss
Father of deep
ecology
Philosopher,
professor,
environmentalist
Author of “Ecology,
Community and
Lifestyle”
 Self-reliance soft ecologists
Small scale in work, settlement and leisure,
avoid large scale actions
Ecological understanding of all principles of
life
Participation in community activities which
protects the rights of minorities
 Self-reliance soft ecologist

Bill Mollison’s book

“Permaculture”
(Permanent
agricultural design
systems)
Focuses on benefits
of small scale
economy
 Environmental Managers
Working to create change on existing social and
politicial structures

Economic growth can be sustained if environmental

issues managed by legal means as government
(ex: increasing taxes for carbon footprints)
Ex:
United Nations
“Friends of Earth” : Campaign material is influencing
existing government to solve environmental problems
 Cornucopians
Man can always solve
problems
Environmental issues are not
real problems
New technologies may bring
us new resources
No need for changes in
government structures, laws
or radical agendas and socio-
economic, politicial reforms in
environmental issues