This commentary discusses SSIs in relation to environmental ethics. In their article, Augusto Macalalag Jr., Joseph Johnson and Michelle Lai note tensions between SSIs and environmental education and investigate educational experiences that address some of these tensions. The discourse associated with SSIs generally does not consider…

Making an adequate response to our deteriorating environmental situation is a matter of ever increasing urgency. It is argued that a central obstacle to achieving this is the way that scientism has become normalized in our thinking about environmental issues. This is taken to reflect on an underlying "metaphysics of mastery" that vitiates proper…

Refers to a particular approach to conservation as a "story," a specific way of conceptualizing experience. Examines the failure of existing cultural explanations and the process of redefining the parameters and possibilities for what can count as conservation. Discusses biases in conservation stories arising from a blind faith in…

Discussed is the meaning of engineering and technology and the need to develop a new philosophy and ethic commensurate with the finite resources of matter and energy. A new ethic is presented in terms of educating engineers in terms of stewardship of the earth and its resources. (KR)

Discusses the importance of environmental education in society. Stresses the need to make it a professional priority and bring the public and the education establishment to a strong awareness of environmental issues. Challenges professional educators to become more committed to the goals of environmental education. (CW)

Suggests that the world and national societies are far from establishing an environmental ethic and principles of conduct. Argues that more can be done to help rationalize the tradeoffs in public policy for managing natural resources. (TW)

Addresses the following issues relevant to coastal zone management: overcrowding, resource exploitation, pollution, agriculture, fisheries, industrial, and other uses. Describes conflicts and trade-offs in management typified by fragmented agency decision making. Discusses implications of the greenhouse effect, sustainable development, and the…

Argues that environmental policy and education are predominantly based on Western beliefs about nature rather than on native and indigenous sensitivities. Discusses Western conceptions of wilderness, alternative perceptions and conservation practices, the role of fires in the ecosystem, the priorities necessary for integrating alternative…

Discusses how biomass in the form of fuelwood, crop residues, and animal dung can be converted into fuels such as biogas and ethanol to replace or supplement fossil fuels. Argues for future decentralized, integrated biomass energy development. (TW)

Describes the differences which divide the social ecology movement and the Deep Ecology Movement. Discusses how each views population ecology, politics, natural resources, and ecological living. Calls for a unified ecological movement. (CW)

States that tidal power projects are feasible in a relatively limited number of locations around the world. Claims that together they could theoretically produce the energy equivalent to more than one million barrels of oil per year. (TW)

This document provides a review of the United States' progress in improving the condition of its environment and the management of its natural resources, as well as a global perspective with regard to this country's policies. The report is divided into two parts. The first five chapters describe and analyze a wide range of environmental conditions…

Describes Ocean Thermal Energy Conservation (OTEC) as a method for exploiting the temperature difference between warm surface waters of the sea and its cold depths. Argues for full-scale demonstrations of the technique for producing energy for coastal regions. (TW)

Discussed are the costs of deriving energy from the earth's natural reserves of salt. Argues that, as fossil fuel supplies become more depleted in the future, the environmental advantages of salinity power may prove to warrant its exploitation. (TW)

A Task Force created in 1989 was asked to provide the Carnegie Commission on Science, Technology, and Government with a brief statement outlining both functional needs in environment and energy and institutional forms to enhance the government's capability to address the emergent issues. One key need the Task Force has identified is for a greater…