Ethics, Policies, and Economics

Ethics

Who or what we care about.

Environmental awakening:

Conservationist (Roosevelt):

• Manage Sustainability

Personvationist (Moir):

• Leave it as it is

Aldo Leopold: He is the father of environmental ethics. Why we should preserve nature.

Rachel Carson: Book ‘Silent Spring’, posioning everything. Influenced environmental policies.

Edward Abbey: Influenced Environmental Terror.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas: A journalist. Wrote/saved the Everglades.

E.O. Wilson: Voiced about animal extinction.

David Attenborough: Nature documentaries.

Robert Bullard: Father of environmental justice. Created an organization.

Chico Mendes: Brought international attention to rainforests.

Wangari Maathi: Started a program to rekindle forests to maintain resources. Program throughout Africa.

Economics

Economics: Free market, government doesn’t set price.

• High Demand = Higher Price

• Low Demand = Low Price

Externalities: Costs or benefits NOT in the retailer price.

Dealing with externalities: Extra Taxes

Environmental costs/benefits: C-air pollution, trash damage, climate change, and health.

Social costs/benefits: Pay through the tax cost of retailer price. Ex. Medicaid, apartments.

Superbug: Limit antibiotics to animals. Bacteria are immune to antibiotics.

Policies

Early Protections:

Birds (used for fashion) ~ Lacy Act of 1900

• illegal to trade in flora/fauna illegally obtained.

• illegal to introduce animals to new areas.

Migratory Bird Treaty Act 1918

• illegal to “take” or transport birds on a list without a license.

  • Take: harass, scare away, harm, pursue, removal/change of habitat.

• Used today to force businesses to protect birds.

Creation of EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

• Clean Air Act

• Clean Water Act

• Hazardous Waste

• Herbicides and Insecticides

• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

US Endangered Species Act 1973

• NOAA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

• US Fish and Wildlife Service

California Endangered Species Act 1970

• CA department fish and wildlife

• Species status~ “listed”

  • Endangered: Population shortage

  • Threatened: likely to become extinct in the near future.

  • Special concern (CESA): endemic~ only found in one place.

D-listed: taken off-listed once saved. (95% success)