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Discussion 1 Assignment and Peer Response: Our first discussion will explore public attitudes associated with not only the environment, but science in general

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Discussion 1 Assignment and Peer Response:

Our first discussion will explore public attitudes associated with not only the environment, but science in general. Why are we drawn toward consumer goods with labels that identify the items as supposedly better, stronger, made natural flavors, maximum strength, all natural, organic, pesticide free, animal testing-free, GMO free, etc.? Why do these labels make a difference even if the label if their meaning is vague inconsequential? The question is not so much the opinion but why different perspectives develop around the issue.

 

What do people base their decision on in terms of agreeing or disagreeing with these statements? In many cases, people may say their decision is on a objective assessment or science. While others may have an opinion that science or aspects of science aren't trustworthy. Ideally, science or scientists are always correct. Unfortunately, there are times when scientists may have different opinions about whether an action is warranted. How do we reconcile these differences and decide how we should respond to a specific claim?

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In your initial post select two or three of the statements listed below as the basis for answering the following questions:

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1. Food containing genetically modified organisms should be labeled as such.

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2. Organic food is more nutritious than nonorganic food.

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3. People should have a choice of whether to vaccinate their children.

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4. Vaccination against certain diseases should be mandatory and free.

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5. Scientists are more likely to highlight results that agree with their conclusions.

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6. Where there is a pandemic people should be not required facemasks in stores.

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7. Stem cell research involved material human embryos should be banned.

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8. Any changes to Earth's climate due human activity is not likely to be long term.

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9. There should be active research monitoring drinking water for lead contamination in all drinking water.

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10. We should take action to address climate change.

 

Post responses to two posts by other students discussing how we form our opinions. If you disagree with someone's opinion be respectful when pointing differences in opinion.

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Requirements for Discussion Assignments

 

Students are required to contribute one initial post and at least two responses for each discussion forum. Responses to other students should be substantive. Points will not be earned for responses that simply state, “I agree” or “Good point.” Responses to classmates must serve to advance the conversation. Students may agree or disagree, but all postings must be courteous and respectful following the NEC Netiquette Guidelines. All posts must conform to academic integrity; see NEC Academic Integrity Policy in the syllabus and the definition of plagiarism below for more details.

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For the initial post (one per forum) students will, unless otherwise specified by the instructor:

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• Compose a well-developed initial post (400 to 500 words per question) that is comprehensive in answering questions posed on the discussion board

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• Post at least two replies (400 words minimum) to classmates for each discussion forum
• ES1110 Environmental Science: A Global Concern – Position Paper Instructions Position Paper Instructions Two position papers will be completed during this course. The goal of the papers is to briefly analyze and succinctly discuss different perspectives or positions on an environmental issue. The paper should include a problem statement or summary, a brief description of at least two sides of an issue, an objective assessment of the issue, and a conclusion with your own opinion. Example: Position 1: Snowmobiles should be permitted into Yellowstone National Park. Snowmobile users are taxpayers whose money is used to fund the national park system. Recreation is an expected use of every national park. Position 2: Snowmobiles should not be permitted into Yellowstone National Park. They produce air pollution and disturb the quiet of both people and wildlife, particularly in the remote areas. My opinion: snowmobile use should be allowed in specified areas for recreation but kept out of remote or “wild” areas. Be careful to avoid overly broad topics that do not really have two alternative views. Example of weak topic selection: Air pollution is bad because it can cause asthma and lung cancer. It hurts people. Alternative: Position 1: The EPA’s proposed rules on reducing mercury and particulate emissions is an important step in reducing health care costs and death. Position 2: The EPA’s proposed rules on reducing mercury and particulate emissions will be too costly to enforce and will raise electricity bills because of the pollution control devices that will be required for utilities to comply with the regulations. The topics of these papers should be based on environmental issues currently in the news. A list of possible topics is included at the end of this writeup. You are not limited to only the listed topics, but the positions should be clearly defined. A sometimes difficult part of writing a position paper is finding additional background references for discussion of the topic. There are no specific requirements as to where background information can be found. 1 ES1110 Environmental Science: A Global Concern – Position Paper Instructions The paper is expected to be at least three pages, including references. At least two references should be used and appropriately cited. One of the references must be less than two months old. The textbook for the course can provide background information, but at least two other references should be used. References to citations should be noted using the the APA formatting style. The use of websites can be appropriate as long as a reference for the information is provided in the position paper. It is not adequate to provide only the URL (e.g., www.cnn.com) for the citation reference. Detailed instructions on the APA format can be accessed online, APA Citation Series: Fundamentals of citing in APA format, http://content.easybib.com/guides/citation-guides/apa-format/ A quick guide for in-text and end reference formatting is included in the file, General Guidelines for in text citation using APA Style posted on the LMS. 2 ES1110 Environmental Science: A Global Concern ES1110 Position Paper – Possible Topics Agriculture • Beef and pork industry demand for water and water pollution runoff from manure storage areas • Corporate farming • Cattle growth hormone • Farm subsidies • Fertilizer overuse • Florida citrus canker threat • Free range cattle/chicken • Hog and chicken farms impacts on health of neighbors • Topsoil loss Air Pollution • Third world use of CFC’s sold by corporations in industrialized nations • Acid deposition • Air pollution and DNA • Air pollution and diabetes • Air pollution and heart attacks • Air pollution and drought • Air pollution and lung damage • Air quality banking • Coal burning pollution controls in U.S. and other countries (China) • Clean Air Act • Cruise line pollution • Use of MTBE • Ozone production • Paper mill air pollution and odor Animals and Animal Rights • Animal rights activists • Humane conditions in the poultry industry • Cosmetic testing • Research that uses animals • Actions of PETA • Genetically modified organisms – Bt crops Cities & Urban Environments • Transportation air pollution • Open space preservation and butterflies • GM corn in our food supply • Mad cow disease prevention • Hoof & mouth disease • • • • • • • • • • • • Health and smog Health and exposure to fine particulates Atmospheric hydroxyl levels Asthma frequency in school children Diesel exhaust and cancer Emission trading EPA and snowmobile use in national parks Gasoline refinement quality Laws on use of wood stoves Ozone production by industry and vehicles NOx emissions Freon smuggling • Smuggling animals into the U.S. • Dog and horse meat consumption Coastal and Marine Environments • Seal harvesting • Whaling • Protection of marine mammals • Iceland whale meat consumption • Japanese whale meat consumption • International Whaling Commission rulings • Beach closing • Protected beaches • Lobster fishing limits • Impacts U.S. Navy sonar testing • Drift net • Urban sprawl fishing ban • Development pressures • Hand-line fishing versus commercial trawlers. ES1110 Environmental Science: A Global Concern Development • Open space protection • Urban sprawl • Construction of ski areas Endangered Species • Spotted owl protection • Grizzly bear management • Bighorn sheep protection • Condor • Eagle • Snail darters • Piping plover Energy • Wind power and wildlife • Wind farms • Biomass burning • Solar energy cost Exotic Species • Carp in the Great Lakes • Asian crab introduction • Asian longhorn beetle • Zebra mussels • Kudzu Food & Food Related Issues • Vegetarianism • Environmental impacts of fast food companies • Health risk of imported foods • E. coli contamination of food Forests and Forestry • Battling hemlock agelgid • Forest management and clear cutting • Shrimp tariff • Sea turtle harvesting • Dolphin-free tuna • Creation of marine life sanctuaries • Fishing bans • Marine oil drilling • Use of antifouling paint on boats and piers • Fate of old oil rigs • Destruction of coral reefs • Loss of the Aral Sea • Shark fin soup • Dead zone off of Texas and New Orleans • • • • Aquatic weeds in New Hampshire Rock snot Knotweed Snakehead fish • Obesity rates • • • • • Logging impacts on wildlife Forest carbon storage Cutting of old growth forests Global forest destruction Road construction in national forests for logging Genetically Modified Organisms • GM corn in our food supply • Bt crops and butterflies • GM meat • Canola • GM vegetables Global Climate Change • Occurrence ES1110 Environmental Science: A Global Concern • Global warming and droughts • Global warming and hurricane intensity and frequency • Use of carbon-free credits • Forest carbon storage • U.S. stance on the export of toxins • Use of brown field sites • World Trade Center worker health problems • Cancer risk from exposure to electromagnetic fields near power lines Global Scale Issues • Globalization • Fair trade coffee • World Trade Organization (WTO) rulings on U.S. tariffs • Desertification Hazardous Material Exposure • Hair dye and cancer • Lead exposure • Love Canal • Asbestos removal • Dioxin in breast milk • Hudson River sediment contamination National Parks, Forests, and Wilderness Areas • Use of jet skis in national parks • National Park Service ban on snowmobiles in Yellowstone • Fire management of wilderness areas • Fire management of national forests • Reintroduction of wolves in national parks Nuclear Energy • Use of nuclear energy to generate electricity • Disposal of nuclear waste Pesticides • Fire ant insecticides • Use of DDT in the developing countries • Pesticide impacts on the environment and human health • Paris Climate Accord • Impact of climate change on the Arctic and Antarctica • Climate change and ocean levels • Aerial spraying of forests for gypsy moths • Aerial spraying of water bodies for mosquito control • West Nile virus eradication • Bhopal, India disaster – Union Carbide • Malathion Petroleum and Mining • Marine oil drilling • Acid mine drainage • Accessing U.S. oil reserves • Drilling in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge • Environmental impacts of gold mining • Fracking bans Recycling • Mandatory recycling • Deposit laws for bottles and cans • States banning cities from implementing plastic bag bans Solid and Hazardous Waste • Scrap tire disposal • Solid waste incineration • Solid waste export and import to other states • Solid waste disposal and citing of landfills • Disposal of electronics (computers and TV’s) Transportation • Car pool lanes • Hybrid vehicles • Ethanol use • Impact of off-road vehicles • Vehicle emission controls Tropics • Ecotourism • Tropical rainforest destruction • Biodiversity loss in tropical rainforests • Development pressures • Loss of indigenous cultures Water Quality • Water quality impacts of golf courses • Mercury levels in fish consumed by humans • Mercury levels in New Hampshire fish • Water poverty index • Bottle water quality • Water rights conflicts between farmers and salmon Water Quality - Rivers • Dam construction • Dam removal ES1110 Environmental Science: A Global Concern • Agent orange • U.S. funding for marijuana eradication in Latin and South America • • • • • • Alaskan oil spills Environmental impact of oil exploration Drilling for oil in Gulf of Mexico Use of tar sands and oil shales Keystone XL Pipeline Bayou Bridge Pipeline • Banning use of plastic straws • • • • Disposal of radioactive waste Transportation of hazardous waste Burning of hazardous waste Yucca Mountain • • Use of hybrid cars Green auto industry • Agriculture in the tropics • • • E. coli contamination of drinking water Pesticide contamination of drinking water Beef and pork industry demand for water and water pollution runoff from manure storage areas Toxic algae in lakes – microcystis and other cyanobacteria • • Impact on agricultural demand for water and salmon spawning rivers ES1110 Environmental Science: A Global Concern Wetlands • Wetland banking • Vernal pool protection • Wetland laws • • • Wetland destruction – specific cases Florida Everglades management Wetland drainage impacts Wildlife Conservation & Management • Bison culling in Yellowstone • Bush meat in Africa • Protection of monarch butterfly in U.S. and Mexico • Dealing with large numbers of crows and pigeons in cities • Songbird conservation • • • • • Wind power and wildlife Logging impacts on wildlife Caviar supplies Impacts of ski areas Manatee protection
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