Limitless growth as a “root metaphor” urgently needs redress. While Classical Economics does include scarcity in its models, its strength as analytical tool is as strong as the variables included. Multiple factors key to ecological stewardship are considered as “externalities”- and as educators for social responsibility, problematizing metaphors about the environment is key.
What is troublesome however is when sources of life are commodified--made into products to be bought and sold. When riverways, atmosphere, oceans, soils, wetlands and forests become toxic, the impacts are distributed while the benefits are private. In other words, property, maximized profit are bound to shareholders, and a trickle-down effect occurs for the rest through employment, economic activity; yet the pollutants extracted, produced and disposed permeate these boundaries.
(An exception is when industries are “nationalized”--the modes of production belong to a state—where benefits are shared. The key question is how do localities participate? For example the Cree Nations around James Bay took action about the mega-hydroelectric projects during the 70s and 90s so to develop the first modern treaty with Quebec.)
Here are a few inquiry trajectories for the classroom:
What chemical compounds are found in our bodies? What products and factors increase these? On the micro-level, contaminants enter our bloodstreams, digestive tracts and lungs. One study revealed in astounding rates of bodily toxicity Canadian Members of Parliament .
"Sum of the Parts" is an Enviro-Ed game from Project Wild. Actions and pollutants upstream by river-front property-owners is shared by all those down river. This is a helpful means to understand watersheds, which like oceans redistribute human extraction, transformation and disposal activities. This can be a springboard to study contaminants from industry, construction and transport that seap into ground-soils.
When studying economic models, challenge students to include environmental or social variables into the supply and demand curves, such as with oil. Or inversely integrate micro-economics into other understandings.
New laws have been passed in B.C. and other provinces that electronics producers are responsible for their proper disposal. This is also called product stewardship and applies to a variety of other products. (Notice the fee added to your bill next time.)
The issue of transparency of where these items go when “recycled.” The smelter in Trail BC takes a good proportion, but much ends up dismantled by hand like in Mainland China or Nigeria . Have students ask tough questions of where items go once "recycled." See what local groups are doing to reuse and reduce (for example, my computer is one recycled and free after volunteering at Free Geek Vancouver.)
Examine as a class current relationships between First Nation bands and industry as extension to units on the fur trade.
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