PHIL 2500.004 Contemporary Environmental Issues
Spring 2016
01/19/2016 - 05/13/2016
Course Attribute: CORE: Humanities Course
Professor Irene J. Klaver / Class Location: Gate132Email:
Office: ENV 310 T
Tel: (940) 565 3331
TA: Derrick Harris: / Meeting time: T/R 11.00-12.20
Office Hours: Thu 2.00 -3.00
& by appointment
Grader: Madelyn
Course Description
Introduction to Contemporary Environmental Issues. Explores ethical, ecological and policy dimensions of such international environmental issues as atmospheric and water pollution, global climate change, industrial agriculture, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and the relationship between environmental issues and social and political concerns.In this course we will focus on water issues and deal with social-political, cultural, historical, philosophical, ethical, economic, and environmental aspects. Satisfies the Humanities requirement of the University Core Curriculum.
Class Structure
Lectures, Discussions, Documentary Films
Reading Materials:
Excerpts from
· (WCD) Johnston, R. B., Klaver, I. J., Castillo-Ramos, A., Strang, M., Niles, N. & Hiwasaki, L. (Eds.) (2012). Water, cultural diversity & global environmental change: Emerging trends, sustainable futures? Jakarta: UNESCO International Hydrological Programme and The Hague: Springer Press.
· Klaver, Irene J. 2014. “Meander(ing) Multiplicity,” in “Mediterranean Mosaic: Water Scarcity, Security and Democracy” edited by Gail Holst-Warhaft, Tammo Steenhuis and Francesca de Châtel. 2014 Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future, Cornell University, and Global Water Partnership-Mediterranean, 36-46
· Kibel, Paul Stanton. 2007. Rivertown. Rethinking Urban Rivers. The MIT Press, Cambridge, MA
· Seal, Jeremy. 2012. Meander: East to West, Indirectly, Along a Turkish River. New York: Bloomsbury USA,
· Articles put on BlackBoard
Requirements:
· Class attendance participation. Notification required in case of absence.
· 10 Quizzes about the assigned reading, lectures and films shown in class.
· Final paper: 5-7 pages, double-spaced (Approx 1250 -1500 words). Topic assigned by Professor Klaver or in consultation with Professor Klaver (decided by March 10, 2016).
Evaluation:
50 % Quizzes and Class Participation50% Final paper
Grading policy: this course is graded according to the requirements specified and weighted below. Quizzes, Discussion and attendance receive a numerical grade; the research paper receives a letter grade. Letter and numerical grades are translatable on the following scale:
A = 90%+
B = 80-89%
C = 70-79%
D = 60-69%
F = 0-59%
CLASS SCHEDULE
WEEK I:
Tue, Jan 19: Introduction Film Blue Gold
Thu, Jan 21: “Water in Cities” UNESCO 2011 5 min film
Klaver, Irene J., “Placing Water and Culture” in: Water, cultural diversity & global environmental change: Emerging trends, sustainable futures? 9-31
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0021/002151/215119E.pdf
WEEK II:
Tue Jan 26: Reading: Trinity Watershed Information sheet
Trinity Watershed Workshop Brian Wheeler, Assistant Director UNT Elm Fork Education Center (EFEC) & Marti Lathrop, Environmental Educator, EFEC http://efec.unt.edu/
MEET IN ATRIUM EESAT https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&q=1704+w+mulberry+denton+tx&ie=UTF-8
Map Module and Watershed Module
Thu, Jan 28: Klaver, Irene J., “Placing Water and Culture” in: Water, cultural diversity & global environmental change: Emerging trends, sustainable futures?
Quiz 1
WEEK III:
Tue Feb 2: MEET IN ATRIUM EESAT Trinity Watershed Workshop Brian Wheeler, & Marti Lathrop, EFEC http://efec.unt.edu/
Chemistry Module
Thu, Feb 4 Klaver, Irene J., “Placing Water and Culture” in: Water, cultural diversity & global environmental change: Emerging trends, sustainable futures?
Quiz 2
WEEK IV: Film: Cadillac Desert I: Mulholland's Dream (1997) Also at YouTube Cadillac Desert - 1. Mulhollands Dream (9 of 9)
Tue, Feb 9: Klaver, Irene J. and J. Aaron Frith. 2013. “A History of Los Angeles’s Water Supply: Towards Reimagining the Los Angeles River,” from: A History of Water, Series 3, Vol. 1. From Jericho to Cities in the Seas: A History of Urbanization and Water Systems. Editors Terje Tvedt and Terje Oestigaard , I.B. Tauris. London New York, NY. 2014.
Thu, Feb 11: Idem
Quiz 3
WEEK V: Websites: http://lariver.org/ and LA RIVER (5 min): http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/international/2010/10/13/qmb.fc.la.river.project.cnn.html
Tue Feb 16: Reading: “Bankside Los Angeles” Gottlieb and Azuma, Rivertown. Rethinking Urban Rivers, Ch 2, 23-47
Thu, Feb 18: Idem
Quiz 4
WEEK VI: KERA Living with the Trinity http://www.trinityrivertexas.org/
Tue, Feb 23: Kibel. Rivertown. Rethinking Urban Rivers, Ch 1,
Bankside Urban, 1-23
Thu Feb 25: Idem
Quiz 5
WEEK VI!: http://www.trinityrivertexas.org/video_full.php
Tue, March 1: Reading: Articles on BB about the Trinity River
Thu March 3: Idem
NO QUIZ
WEEK VIII: PPT Prof Klaver: Denton Detention Pond Trinity River Watershed.
Tue, March 8: Klaver, Irene J. 2015. “Accidental Wildness on a Detention Pond,” Antennae, The Journal of Nature in Visual Culture, #33, Autumn 2015, 45-58. www.antennae.org.uk
Thu, March 10: Idem
Quiz 6
WEEK IX: SPRING BREAK
Tue, March 15: NO CLASS
Thu, March 17: NO CLASS
NO QUIZ
WEEK X: Film: Liquid Assets—The Story of Our Water Infrastructure (2008) https://youtu.be/IAcQ1PF8rCs
Tue, March 22: Klaver, Irene J. 2013. “Environment Imagination Situation,” in: Linking Ecology And Ethics For A Changing World: Values, Philosophy, and Action, Editors Ricardo Rozzi, Steward T.A. Pickett, Juan J. Armesto, Clare Palmer, and J. Baird Callicott, The Hague: Springer Press, 2013.
Thu, March 24: Idem.
Quiz 7
WEEK XI: Dam building and water diversion in Turkey. Website: Revolt in Anatolia http://vimeo.com/21679494
Tue, March 29: Seal, Jeremy. 2012. Meander: East to West, Indirectly, Along a Turkish River till p.28. Look also at the maps.
Thu, March 31: Idem.
Quiz 8
WEEK XII: PPT Prof Klaver: Meandering and Metis
Tue, April 5: Seal, Jeremy. 2012. Meander: East to West, Indirectly, Along a Turkish River, Chapters 3 & 4, pp. 29-63
Thu, April 7: Klaver, Irene J. 2014. “Meander(ing) Multiplicity,” in “Mediterranean Mosaic: Water Scarcity, Security and Democracy” edited by Gail Holst-Warhaft, Tammo Steenhuis and Francesca de Châtel. 2014 Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future, Cornell University, and Global Water Partnership-Mediterranean, 36-46
WEEK XIII: Film: Damnation
Tue, April 12: Klaver, Irene J. 2014. “Meander(ing) Multiplicity.”
Thu, April 14: Idem & Seal’s Chapters from his book Meander
WEEK XIV: PPT: Mekong River in Laos.
Tue, April 19: Fred Pearce: From When the Rivers Run Dry, Ch 12 “Mekong: Feel the Pulse”
Thu, April 21: Idem
Quiz 9
WEEK XV: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2015/nov/26/the-mekong-river-stories-from-the-heart-of-the-climate-crisis-interactive
Meltdown in Tibet See www.MeltdowninTibet.com
The Mekong River's Controversial Dams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zwK9YP046g
Tue, April 26: World Rivers Review Vol 22, number2 /June 2007 The Mekong: Diverse, Magnificent, Threatened
Thu, April 28: Back to Texas
DVD’s: 1. The Vision for the Trinity
2. The Trinity River Project-A Plan in Progress
3. Waters to the Sea—Trinity River
http://www.thetrinitytrust.org/
Website Trinity in Fort Worth http://www.trinityrivervision.org/
WEEK XVI:
Tue, May 3: Review Literature
Thu, May 5: LAST CLASS
WEEK XVII: OFFICIAL EXAM WEEK
Tue, May 10: PAPER DUE ELECTRONICALLY
Submit to BlackBoard!!!!!
NO Official Exam
Classroom Courtesy: Please follow these guidelines
(1) Turn off cell phones before arriving.
(2) Do not arrive late or leave early.
(3) Do not sleep during class.
(4) Do not work on other assignments during class.
(5) Do not talk or whisper to neighbors (except for formal class interaction).
Student behavior that interferes with an instructor’s ability to conduct a class or other students’ opportunity to learn is unacceptable and disruptive and will not be tolerated in any instructional forum at UNT. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior will be directed to leave the classroom. Code of Student Conduct: http://www.unt.edu/csrr/student_conduct/index.html.
Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or exams; dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor, the acquisition of tests or other material belonging to a faculty member, dual submission of a paper or project, resubmission of a paper or project to a different class without express permission from the instructors, or any other act designed to give a student an unfair advantage. Plagiarism includes the paraphrase or direct quotation of published or unpublished works without full and clear acknowledgment of the author/source.
Academic dishonesty will bring about disciplinary action, which may include expulsion from the university. This is explained in the UNT Student Handbook. www.vpaa.unt.edu/academic-integrity.htm
Drop/Add Information
If you wish to drop the class, please refer for scheduling and deadline information to: www.essc.unt.edu/registrar/schedule/scheduleclass.html
ODA Statement:
The University of North Texas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in a course. You may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. For additional information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website at http://www.unt.edu/oda. You may also contact them by phone at 940.565.4323.