Environment, Ecology, and Health

One of the major problems facing modern medicine today, the evolution of antibiotic resistant microbes, could have been predicted and perhaps avoided if we had a better understanding of ecology and evolution. Fortunately, nature may have some suggestions about how to minimize this very serious problem in the future.

http://www.slideshare.net/secret/rPekyBdLalUvFY

Why a feeling of disgust can be good for us.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15495296

Flooding in Thailand

Last week I mentioned that the weather phenomenon that has caused us to have such a severe drought (have you been enjoying the rain this morning?) has cause unusually high amounts of precipitation in other areas. I mentioned that there were major flooding problems in Thailand. Here is a link to some photos from CNN. I some areas flood waters are expected to remain high for weeks, and even months!

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/26/asia/gallery/thailand-flood/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Student Presentations

Here are the dates you signed up for your presentations.

Topics- After you have decided on a topic and OKed by me I will add your topic to the list. If there are any problems with different people wanting the same topic then first come, first served!!

November

11th- Brittany L.
Phillip

14th- Nick
Kendall

16th- Allie
Brittany F.

18th- Mary
Randi Leigh

21st- Rachel
Kate

28th- Melissa
Trey

30th- Ethan
Ian

December

2nd- Darian
Tomas

5th- Jimbo
Matthew

7th- Trey
John

Environmental Disasters

Some people argue that environmental regulations are important to stop long term changes to the environment (e.g., climate change, degradation of water resources, loss of biodiversity) and to prevent short term environmental disasters.

Here are some links that discuss some of the worst human-caused environmental disasters in the world and in the USA. These are events about which I think everyone should be aware.
Enjoy. (I would put on my "critical thinking hat" while reading many of these articles).

Top 10 Environmental Disasters World-side
http://www.lenntech.com/environmental-disasters.htm

America's Ten Worst Man Made Environmental Disasters
http://www.lenntech.com/environmental-disasters.htm

America's ten worst man-made environmental disasters
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/photos/americas-10-worst-man-made-environmental-disasters/libby-a

Environmental Regulations

Readings

Clean Air Act, United States-
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Clean_Air_Act%2C_United_States

Clean Water Act, United States
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Clean_Water_Act%2C_United_States

Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Environmental_Protection_Agency%2C_United_States

Endangered Species Act, United States
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Endangered_Species_Act%2C_United_States

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Convention_on_International_Trade_in_Endangered_Species_of_Wild_Fauna_and_Flora_%28CITES%29

Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Montreal_Protocol_on_Substances_that_Deplete_the_Ozone_Layer

Kyoto Protocol
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Kyoto_Protocol

Kyoto Protocol and the United States
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Kyoto_Protocol_and_the_United_States

Powerpoint Presentation

Environmental Regulations
http://www.slideshare.net/secret/3KcVoxWWCDaVLZ

Expected Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course a fully engaged student should be able to

- discuss important environmental legislation in the United States

- discuss the role of the Environmental Protection Agency and the US Fish and Wildlife Service

- discuss important international environmental agreements such as CITES, the Montreal Protocol, the Kyoto Protocol

- participate intelligently in debates about the relationship between environmental regulation and economic growth

Religion and the Environment

Reading

Lynne Townsend White Jr. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynn_Townsend_White,_Jr.

Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis- by Lynne White
http://www.zbi.ee/~kalevi/lwhite.htm

Overview of World Religions and Ecology
http://fore.research.yale.edu/religion/index.html

My lecture notes came from-
Religion, nature and environmentalisms- EoE
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Religion%2C_nature_and_environmentalim

Powerpoint Presentation
Religion and the Environment- http://www.slideshare.net/secret/59gLmN30XTsJbX

Expected Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course a fully engaged student should be able to

- Discus the relationship between Christianity, Islam, Bhuddism, and Animism and the environment

Invasive Species Control Gone Wrong

Kudzu is an invasive plant that is causing a lot of trouble in parts of the SE United States.
Here is a link to a recent article from a recent Time magazine that examines an effort to control the invasive species kudzu that has gone horribly wrong.

enjoy

http://start.toshiba.com/news/read.php?ps=1011&rip_id=%3CD9QEFKC02%40news.ap.org%3E&news_id=18816952&src=most_popular_viewed