October 2011
9 posts
Week 11: Food, Fuel and the Environment
Powerful Nations Withhold Climate Aid, Trample... →
This article from Common dreams examines the Climate Change Aid given to various countries. It reveals that one-third of international money went to China, India and Brazil while the poorest 49 countries got just one-eighth. While I do not doubt the need for aid in countries such as India and China. This clearly documents the preference for giving to powerful trade interests to benefit economic...
The Issues of Population growth and Environmental... →
This is an article from Polymic which examines issues of population growth and environmental security. This article examines these problems from a Malthusian perspective and at one point suggests that China and US may have conflict with each other in the near future over the scarcity or resources. This is the idea of ‘Violent environments’ as Wolfram Dressler addressed in our lecture....
Week 10: Organic Coffee: Gender and Export Led...
Africa's Future and the World Bank's support to it →
This is a strategy guide for the ‘development’ of Africa made by the World Bank released in March. This guide highlights the oppurtunites for growth and export prospects while ignoring the underlying structural issues. These being the corrupt power relations, economic vulnerability, worsening resource curses, land grabs and threats of environmental chaos and disease. These have...
How Food and Water are Driving a 21st Century... →
This article from the guardian examines the land grabs that are currently occurring in Africa and it portrays once again the economic view that pervades the thinking of large multinational corporations. Although touted as a way to put money and jobs into the local communities. this is not the way the locals see it “This is the new 21st century colonisation. The Saudis are enjoying the rice...
Week 9: Environmental Inequalities
Tuvalu Drought could be dry run for dealing with... →
This article from the guardian examines the affects of Climate Change on the island of Tuvalu. This illustrates the inequalities associated with the effects of climate change. The author of this article examines what effects climate change will have on thepeople of Tuvalu and they are expected to be heavily affected as a result of La Nina and more importantly, climate change. This article also...
Famine and Hope in the Horn of Africa →
This article is a piece on the famine in Somalia and other parts of Africa by leading development economist Jeffrey Sachs. This article acknowledges the role of climate change in the crisis that they are facing. It also expresses the role of the US and europe in helping to create the affects of Climate change that are now being experienced and how they have neglected to act effectively in...
September 2011
14 posts
Week 8: Environmental Discourses
Disclosure Needed on Anti-Wind Farm Group's... →
This article examines the mtives of groups which push an Anti-wind farm agenda. The author Ben Courtice shows the hidden interests and agendas of members of the organisation the ‘Landscape Guardians’. Courtice also suggests that this group along with others groups that are affiliated are silent on issues relating to coal seam gas or other similiar controversies. This is an example of...
Reef Safeguard Cut Back →
Week 7: Social Constructivism and the Environment
A Tainted Water Well, and Concerns There May Be... →
This article from the New York Times examines the risks associated with fracking which is extremely relevant to issues of Coal Seam Gas at the moment. The author of this piece highlights the continued statements of industry officials that it is not a dangerous process, which is contradictory to what has occurred. I believe this exemplifies a social construction of fracking which is beginning to...
Business as Usual is Destroying America →
Week 6: Urban Sociology and the Environment
Build Up, Not Out →
This is an article from the ABC which examines the thought that Australia should focus on building up, not out in regards to housing. This idea is contrary to the general development of Australia housing as it conflicts with the Australian dream of home ownership on a large block of land. This ideal is not compatible with environmental beliefs as it uses more fertile agricultural land than the use...
It's Not Just About Bike Lanes →
This article, again from the ABC highlights the dangers of cycling on Australian roads as compared to our European counterparts where cycling is extremely prevalent. This article is relevant to the current situation in Brisbane in that while plenty of money has been invested in cycling, it is not working out as expected. This is a result of the landscape and infrastructure in Brisbane. The hilly...
Week 5: Risk society and Public Engagement
The Great Big Crazy Carbon Conspiracy →
This article examines the protests against the carbon tax. The author engages the protestors beliefs and mocks some their views. This article and the no confidence convoy illustrate the effectiveness of public engagement in showing
Coal Lobby Warns Wind Farms May Blow Earth Off... →
This is a satirical news video from the Onion which asks the question ‘Could wind turbines blow the earth off its orbit?’ Responses from the coal lobbyist in this video argue that ‘people could literally be blown right off the face of the earth’ and later on argues that ‘Solar energy is sucking our sun dry’. These arguments, while hilarious, also reflect the...
Week 4: Development, Nature and Ways of Knowing
The Authoritarian face of the "Green Revolution":... →
This is an article from international NGO Grain which examines the effects of the so called ‘green revolution’ on Agribusiness in Rwanda. It illustrates the same recycled neoliberal policies of privatisation and deregulation in Rwanda that have been proven to fail elsewhere. (Mcmichael, 2008) The promise of a ‘green revolution’ in Africa has aimed for...
August 2011
8 posts
Horn of Africa: Millions at Risk in "Deadly... →
This video from Democracy New is an examination of the Horn of Africa famine and in concentrated mainly on the interview of author Christian Parenti. Parenti attributes this problem to war, climate change change and the neoliberal strategies of unabrasive free market policies. I will examine climate change in other weeks. However, Thisneoliberal agenda is an example of development strategies (such...
Week 3: Theorising Society and the Environment;... →
This article is from the ABC and is a speech by the President of the Czech Republic Vaclav Klaus. In this article Klaus attacks the climate change agenda as a group of people who are trying to control the freedom of people. He mentions that these are the same people who warned of ‘mass poverty and the inevitability of billions of people starving’ as if these are not significant and...
Global South key to African economies. →
This is an article from Al Jazeera stressing the importance of the Global South in the ‘development’ of Africa. This article explores The African American outlook 2011. A report which evokes the need for further development by following the path of already developed countries. However, this is problematic in that it reproduces the same environmental problems that exist in the Global...
Week 2: The Sociology of Climate Change
The sociology of climate change is a highly important issue for the world of today. The sources i have used this week are an article on ‘The Scourge of Peak oil’, Fox news’ attack on Spongebob Squarepants and An Article regarding Malcolm turnbulkl discussing ‘The ignorant war on Science. ’The Scourge of Peak Oil’ illustrates the nature of the oil situation at...
WatchFox and friends attack Sponge-bob Squarepants due to it’s ‘Global Warming Agenda’
Malcolm Turnbull slams ignorant war on science →
The Scourge of 'Peak Oil' →
Week 1: Why is the Environment a Social Issue
This week, I have examined an article from Al Jazeera english aswell as a satirical news video from The Onion. The article from Al jazeera present issues related to extreme weather as the new global norm. The video from the Onion illustrates the ignorance and rejection of scientific evidence that runs rampant in the mainstream media. This article from Al Jazeera states that, according to a UN...
July 2011
2 posts
Extreme Weather: The New Normal →
WatchNation’s Climatologists Exhibiting Strange Behaviour