Unit Six: the future debate
LSRC 251 - Introduction to Recreation and the Natural Environment
|
|
Unit Six: the future debate LSRC 251 - Introduction to Recreation and the Natural Environment |
Unit Six: The Future of Outdoor Recreation and Environmental Preservation
The broad topic of lecture six is to think about the future and the general themes of this course. At the largest level the issue is preservation and sustainability of the global environment and its political and social systems. Doomsayers exist to suggest that the global environmental threats you researched earlier in the semester will in fact overwhelm us and destruction is the certain end. Assuming a 'closed system' the argument is convincing. Human willingness to change is slow at best and resistant to the point of death at the worst. The global environmental issues are complex and some hold potentially devastating consequences. Simplistic answers to complex problems are usually the wrong answers. Combine what some have called the 'irreducible complexity' of these problems, meaning there is no simple answer, with the 'resistance to change' problem and one might assume a recipe for disaster. Combine this double whammy with the concept of geometric growth (follow this link to understand - read all 11 pages) and the future might look a bit bleak. At least the next doubling of human population will occur within your lifetime. The ultimate environmental problem for the human species will be related to food supply for the population rather than ozone or toxic waste, though they will be interrelated. The acceleration or speed of onset of that 'growth/food supply problem' will totally stress our political and social systems and their capacity for rapid change. This century will not be boring.
While you are solving the global environmental issues of paragraph one, focus on the slightly more narrow issue of people and their relationship to the natural environment. Our solution of the more narrow problem outlined by Richard Louv in Last Child in the Woods has tremendous ability to handicap or empower our ability to respond to larger environmental issues. Louv describes the great disconnect that has been in process as children are raised without the clear tie to the natural environment. He elucidates a number of consequences from this great disconnect including impacts on children's creativity, social competence, and even emotional and spiritual health. You are familiar with all those consequences from earlier reading and essay questions. One of the scary thoughts is that the values of 'environmental concern' show greater strength in adults who have had real connections with the outdoor world. As our culture isolates people (especially today's children) from outdoor play and recreation where will be the environmental advocates to lead the fight against the growing environmental problems. How will children and adults have the realistic and compassionate views of the natural world that can equip them to deal with issues professionally and politically?
Louv appears hopeful rather than dismal in his final sections of the book and indicates signs of hope (Section IV-VII). As you read those final ten chapters what points are made which you find hopeful for the nature-child reunion? What would you suggest as practical means to help children and adults re-connect to the natural world? How can people equip themselves to face environmental issues?
When you are ready to take the Quiz 6 follow this link. The test includes 2 multiple choice questions on human population growth. The multiple choice questions are worth 4 pts each (8 total) and the essay question on Louv is worth a total of 42 points for a total of 50 points on Quiz 6. The Louv question will be a slight variation of the questions asked in the preceding paragraph. Submit answers when you have completed the test.
Key Links in the course