Topic 1 Foundations of ESS

Topic 1.1
• Historical events and other influences which have helped develop the
Environmental movement.
•What are the values across the Environmental Values spectrum?

Resources for this topic

•Page 3 of your textbook gives 9 bullet points which summarise this
chapter.
•You should also look at the check list for this topic.
•A vocab list is also available for this topic
 Topic 1 Foundations of ESS

You will see the term system all the way through this book.
Exam questions often have you explaining a particular system.

So what exactly is a system?

A system is something that is made from separate parts that are

linked together and affect each other. Usually discussed in terms of
inputs, processes, outputs and feedbacks.
 Introduction only - What is an Environmental Values system?

An EVS is a worldview or paradigm that shapes the way an individual,

or group of people, perceives and evaluates environmental issues,
influenced by cultural, religious, economic and socio-political contexts.

An EVS might be considered as a system in the sense that it may be

influenced by education, experience, culture and media (inputs), and
involves a set of interrelated premises, values and arguments that can
generate consistent decisions and evaluations (outputs). These are the
inputs, processes, outputs and feedbacks to your personal EV systems.

We will return to this in slide 8 and investigate your own viewpoints.

 Topic 1.1 Historical events and other influences which have helped
develop the Environmental movement.

Activity -Brainstorm

Books? Disasters?
Brainstorm-
Environmental
Movements or events
I know of

Movies? Documentaries? Agreements?

Mr. P will write your current knowledge on the board.

 Topic 1 Foundations of ESS

Activity
Take brief notes on the events, doco’s, books, movies and disasters
which have contributed towards the environmental movement
contained in the pages 4 to 9. (you must know a variety of least 3)
(Extension – What were the outcomes of the Paris summit of 2015?
What has Trump said about the US involvement in the Paris summit
since then?)
Homework research task.
•Select one of the events, conferences, disasters and present to the
class. A power point may be suitable - limited to 5 minutes.
•You need to be clear about what the event is and how it contributed to
changing perceptions of people and their perceptions of the
environment. (hint – see the Concepts box pg 10)
•It will be graded and will contribute to your first grade for this topic!
A Key Event in history – The bombing of the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior
In 1985, French secret service agents planted two bombs and sank the ship the
Rainbow Warrior. One crew member was killed. It was an instance when a
government of France chose to respond to peaceful protest with deadly force.

Butter,

Swiss
Tourists,

Tropical
Holiday
camps,

Home
free,

Blood on
the
Rugby
field This event contributed
Strongly towards Mr.P’s EVS
 The sixties onward man (Extra lesson)

Outline the evolution of environmentalist objectives

and strategies.
Activity – create a timeline from 1962 -2006 and or
beyond. List and briefly describe the significant events

1960 2015

Extension – please watch “Years of living dangerously’.

I will show you exam questions which include this topic.

Note- This is an ‘extra’ idea. 3 events are minimum to know but an idea
about the evolution of strategies is important also.
 Topic 1 Foundations of ESS
Definition - Environmental Values Systems (page 11)
‘An environmental value system (EVS) is a worldview or paradigm
that shapes the way an individual or group of people perceive and
evaluate environmental issues. It is influenced by the cultural,
religious, economic and socio-political context’.

Activity
1.Read page 11 -13
2.Look closely at the classification and names given for different
values systems along the continuum.
3.Describe in your own words what Ecocentric, Anthropocentric and
Technocentric viewpoints are. Be prepared to discuss.
4.Create a star /spider diagram of what has influenced your EVS.
 The Range of Environmental Values Systems
People and societies have a spectrum of ideas and views

Activity
1.For 2 Minutes. Look at the range of values on the chart on page 13.

2.Close your text.

3.From the group of laminates given to your group create a range of

Environmental viewpoints and place them in the order you think they
belong.
 Topic 1 Foundations of ESS
The Range of EVSs
Look at the range of values on the chart on page 13.

Activity
1.On the board place yourself where you currently sit in terms of your
values system. Write your initials and a 1. Eg MP1

2.Next put your initials and a 2 for where you would like to be.
(They may be the same).

1.Where would Donald Trump, Mahatma Gandhi,Gandhi Barak Obama be on

this spectrum? See next slides or the wall.
 Ecocentrism
Technocentrism
People Centred
Nature centred
 Technology
Centred
Implication that materialism for its own sake is
wrong and that economic growth can be geared
to providing for the basic needs of those below
subsistence levels.
Anthropocentrism
Deep Ecologist
Soft Ecologist
Environmental
Manager
 Cornucopians
This viewpoint integrates social, spiritual, and environmental
dimensions into a holistic ideal. It puts ecology and nature
as central to humanity, and emphasizes a less materialistic
approach to life with greater self-sufficiency of societies.
This viewpoint prioritizes biorights, emphasizes the
importance of education and encourages self-restraint in
human behaviour.
This viewpoint believes that technological developments can
provide solutions to environmental problems. This is a
consequence of a largely optimistic view of the role humans
can play in improving the lot of humanity.
Scientific research is encouraged in order to form policies and
understand how systems can be controlled, manipulated or
changed to solve resource depletion. A pro-growth agenda is
deemed necessary for society’s improvement.
This viewpoint believes humans must sustainably
manage the global system. This might be through
the use of taxes, environmental regulation, and
legislation.
Debate would be encouraged to reach a
consensual, pragmatic approach to solving
environmental problems.
Belief that people can always find a way out of any difficulties,
whether political, scientific, or technological.
Optimism about the ability of humans to improve the lot of
the world’s people.
Faith that scientific and technological expertise provides the basic
foundation for advice on matters pertaining to economic growth,
and public health and safety.
Intrinsic importance of nature for the humanity of
man.
Ecological (and other natural) laws dictate human
morality.
Biorights – the right of endangered species or
unique landscapes to remain unmolested.
Emphasis on smallness of scale and hence
community identity in settlement, work, and
leisure.
Belief that economic growth and resource exploitation can
continue assuming:
a suitable economic adjustments to taxes, fees, etc.
b improvements in the legal rights to a minimum level of
environmental quality
c compensation arrangements satisfactory to those who
experience adverse environmental and/or social effects.
 Barrak Obama
“ One of the things I draw from the Genesis story is the importance of
us being good stewards of the land, of this incredible gift. And I think
there have been times where we haven’t been [good stewards], and
this is one of those times where we’ve got to take the warning seriously
[about climate change]. And part of what my religious faith teaches me
is to take an intergenerational view, to recognize that we are
borrowing this planet from our children and our grandchildren…. We
have to find resources in ourselves to make sacrifices so we don’t leave
it to the next generation. We’ve got to be less wasteful, both as a
society and in our own individual lives … As president, I hope to rally
the entire world around the importance of us being good stewards of
the land.”

Source: 2008 Democratic Compassion Forum at Messiah College Apr 13, 2008
 Who is this quote from?
“ One of the things I draw from the Genesis story is the
importance of us being good stewards of the land, of
this incredible gift. And I think there have been times
where we haven’t been [good stewards], and this is one
of those times where we’ve got to take the warning
seriously [about climate change].
And part of what my religious faith teaches me is to
take an intergenerational view, to recognize that we
are borrowing this planet from our children and our
grandchildren…. We have to find resources in ourselves
to make sacrifices so we don’t leave it to the next
generation. We’ve got to be less wasteful, both as a
society and in our own individual lives … As president, I
hope to rally the entire world around the importance of
us being good stewards of the land.”
Source: 2008 Democratic Compassion Forum at Messiah College Apr 13, 2008
Barrak Obama

Former leader of
the Free World
Mahatma Gandhi
 Mahatma Gandhi
“The earth, the air, the land and the water are not
inheritance from our fore fathers but on loan from our
children. So we have to handover to them at least as it
was handed over to us.”

“There is a sufficiency in the world for man’s need but

not for man’s greed.”
Who are these quotes from?
“The earth, the air, the land and the water are
not inheritance from our fore fathers but on
loan from our children. So we have to
handover to them at least as it was handed
over to us.”
“There is a sufficiency in the world for man’s
need but not for man’s greed.”
 Who are these quotes from?
‘Windmills are going to be the death of Scotland and
even England if they don't do something about them.
They are ruining the countryside’.
‘I have made the tough decisions, always with an eye
toward the bottom line. Perhaps it's time America
was run like a business’.
Who are these quotes from?
"The concept of global warming was created by and
for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing
non-competitive.“
"This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bullshit has
got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,
and our GW scientists are stuck in ice."
 Donald Trump
What is his Environmental Viewpoint?
 Decision making and environmentalism worksheet
In the 2 boxes below discuss how technocentric and ecocentrics would approach the problems in different ways. Page 15-17

Environmental solutions to problems caused by the use of fossil fuels

Technocentrics would..

Whereas ecocentrics would..

Solutions by Resource managers due to the shortage of water

Technocentrics would..

Whereas ecocentrics would..

 Environmental viewpoints
some video resources to ponder
Earth days movie 1hr– Viewpoints from America

Ta’Kaiya Blaney: Youth Ambassador for Earth

A young indigenous girl from Canada connects
to her viewpoints

Extra slide
 Case studies of Contrasting EVS

Case study 1 : Judaeo-Christian and Buddhist societies. Pg. 14

Case study 2 : Native American and European pioneers. Pg. 15

The examiners want you to be able to compare and contrast significantly

different views.
Activities
1. Write a couple of paragraphs comparing and contrasting these two
societies E.V.S.
2. Comment on where they sit on the continuum line of values between
Ecocentrism and Technocentrism.
3. What are the implications and consequences of these views?
4. Justify why you think they belong there.

OR use the following worksheet.

 Worksheet 1.1 A. Compare and contrast the environmental value systems of two named societies.
B. What are the implications/consequences of these views on the environment?
Religion (case studies)
Judaeo-Christian Buddhist societies. Pg. 14 .

Culture (USA case studies)

Native American European pioneers. Pg. 15

If you want to substitute the Native Americans with Pre-European Maori of NZ Mr. P will discuss.
How do EVS philosophies (of countries) influence the decision making
process with respect to environmental issues.

The following is one example.

Eg The Greenpeace bombing and NZ’s anti-nuclear campaign
The bombing of the Rainbow warrior (A Greenpeace ship) by the French
secret service at the port of Auckland in 1985 consolidated an anti-
nuclear stance in New Zealand and in many parts of the world.
Today, New Zealand uses no nuclear power and will not allow ships
powered by nuclear power or carrying nuclear waste in their
international waters.
Consequences
A huge loss in economic trade with France. The US excluded NZ from a
military and NZ suffered economically as well. GDP to a big dip for a
while. Has had positive tourist effect. ‘Clean, Green image’.
NZ is passing a law to ban one use plastic bags, straws, etc.
 Decision making and EVSs
A societies viewpoints greatly influence the way they take action.

You must be aware of the way two opposing values systems influence
Decision making. (pages 15, 16.)

We will investigate these examples;

1. The issue of Global warming caused by the use of Fossil fuels.
2. Management of water due to increased demand.

Activity
•Split into two groups. Research the two examples above and present to
the class. On the board or a power point.
•Notes should be taken by all.
 Some key words so far.
Intrinsic Value?
•Where an object or place has a worth irrespective of it’s
economic value. A life has a right to exist.
• Eg Uluru (Ayes Rock) in Australia, Cockroaches?
Biosphere?
•The living part of the planet
Practice Exam questions for EVS
The figure below contains an ancient Chinese proverb.
 Proverb
If you are thinking a year ahead, sow seed
If you are thinking ten years ahead, plant a tree
If you are thinking a hundred years ahead, educate the people
Chinese poet Kuan Tzu 500 BC

(a)The poet Kuan Tzu could be seen as an ecocentrist or a

technocentrist. Justify whether you think his views are
ecocentric or technocentric. (4)
(b)Outline two factors which may affect someone’s environmental
philosophy. (2)
Examiners marking ideas
2. (a) This can be argued either way, although it is more probable that
Kuan Tzu was an ecocentrist. Give credit for strong justification.
Ecocentrist because
the proverb seems to be advising taking a long-term view;
clearly advocates education and ecocentrism stresses importance
of self-reliant communities;
through education people will arguably learn to value the
environment and use resources sustainably;
refers to “the people” and this perhaps suggests a lack of faith
in elites/authorities;
or technocentrist because
education will help lead to technological development;
through technology we will find longer term solutions to
environmental problems;
we need to understand natural processes in order to control them;
faith in the ability of people to overcome obstacles; 4
 Answer to question (b)
Factors which may affect someone’s environmental
philosophy.

(b) education – level and type will affect environmental

awareness;
economic conditions – will shape views towards
environment
e.g. short-term or long-term view;
political context – will affect e.g. how groups in society are
organized/treated;
cultural views – will affect predominant attitudes to the
environment;
religious view – holy texts/doctrine may dictate relationship
between people and creation/nature; 2 max
Accept other reasonable answers.
 A
•B
 1.2 Systems and Models – page 18

•See other powerpoint still needs some modification