Objective: Describe some of the challenges to achieving sustainability.
There are many divisions in societies. For example, ethnocentrism, policy and bureaucracy, socioeconomic differences, and viewing others as less than. Everyone has a shadow side. We need to be taught where we are failing as a collective people.
We need to view ourselves as part of the environment. We need to think about long term impacts and actual costs. Traditionally, you are never doing better than the person experiencing the worst. This change will require a cultural shift. Earth is feminine, as long as we are repressing women we are out of balance. (DeWitt)
Objective: Explain how economics and environmental science are related.
Economics and environment are a westernized view. It is not about supply and demand, but balancing issues. Don’t continually supply for demand, we need to keep balance. Importing a lot creates a false abundance. (DeWitt)
Objective: Give an example of a private effort to address environmental problems.
Not every indigenous tribe is trying to address environmental issues. But the relationship indigenous have with the environment is conducive to being protectors. They are ecological conscious and have wisdom about the environment. Indigenous have lived experience that we should listen to and Indigenous people need to have a greater voice in governance. (DeWitt)
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Objective: Describe six major laws designed to improve water quality in the United States.
Water is the first medicine. We are formed in water in utero. It is our first world. When we are children our bodies are 85% water and as we grow into adults our bodies are 70% water, which is the same ratio as the Earth itself. This is why improving water quality and protecting clean water sources is so important, we continually need clean water to rejuvenate our systems to live well and be healthy. (DeWitt)
Objective: Identify ways in which the choices that you can make as an individual may affect the environment.
People need to have a responsibility for self. Major changes and impacts won’t make a difference unless individual people make choices to live in a way that supports a continued healthy ecosystem. (DeWitt)