Journal 16 There is a maximum of 1500 characters.
1. Define a consumer society and cite examples of such societies. How could these societies reduce consumption of resources?
2. Do you believe that there are serious climate change issues, including global warming, that are caused by human activities? Give reasons to support your answer.
3. Discuss how environmental issues are related to population issues. Give some examples.
4. Discuss in detail if you believe that the Judeo-Christian Bible really does not condone the way in which we control, waste, and destroy nature, then present evidence from the Bible or Judeo-Christian teachings that encourage reverence, protection, and preservation of nature.
5. What is more important: civilization and progress or the natural environment? Why?
6. Discuss the ways in which economic growth benefits the environment.
7. Do you believe that animals have rights, and that we have an obligation to protect these rights?
8. Defend or attack the vegetarian position, giving good reasons and arguments for whichever side you take.
9. Do you believe we should use animals for experimentation purposes? Why or why not?
10. Do you think it is moral to hunt animals for meat, bodyparts, or sport? Defend your position.
11. Why should we protect endangered species? What difference does it really make if certain species become extinct?
12. Select an important issue in environmental ethics and analyze it from a Hindu, Buddhist, Daoist, or Confucian perspective.
13. If every person was safe, prosperous, and consenting on the new planet, would we be doing anything inherently wrong by wringing the last resource out of this planet until every ecosystem was literally destroyed? Why or why not?
14. What is wrong with these rationalizations? Can you think of other common rationalizations that attempt to excuse or explain away behavior and avoid blame?
