Env Science Chapter 1-2 Questions

Chapter 1

Critical Thinking Questions

2. The environment can be saved if we all went back to an agrarian-based civilization, but the amount of people that would die would be staggering (disease, cancer, heart attacks…all would be 100% fatal almost immediately since there would be no hospitals). The job factor is important to continue to grow and survive as a civilization. Without jobs, there would be no growth in any area of business.

Jobs are the source of human development. It brings production and stability in the society. Environment is also related to human development. It has a great impact on production also. I don’t think that only GDP growth ensures our economic growth. I like to emphasis on better allotment of wealth. Environmental protection needs concerted efforts.

The fine line is there. We just need to straddle it by having environmental projects, green technology and consumer buy-in on the ideas. If we give people a choice, they’d go greener that they are now.

What’s Your Take?

I agree with the Governors of the Great Lakes when they say that the water is a valuable resource needed by the citizens of their states and I think signing this agreement prohibiting the export of the water is very smart of them and I would have done the same thing. We cannot be mad at them or accuse them of being selfish, they own the water so they should be able to exploit it the way they want. Actually my parents live by a lake in the Austin area and the cost of the water is not as expensive as other places and they never have restrictions because the water comes directly from the nearby lake.

I understand that other people would like to be able to use that water but it is a limited resource and if they were to export it, way more people would use it, probably use it excessively and the resource would diminish faster. The governors just want to make sure the people from the great lakes regions have what they need....