Media Collection

Week 11: Food, Fuel and the Environment

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 22:08:42 -0400

Powerful Nations Withhold Climate Aid, Trample World's Poor

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 22:05:00 -0400

Powerful Nations Withhold Climate Aid, Trample World's Poor:

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 growth internally. While this is an example of Environmental inequalities as has been represented earlier in this blog, I believe it is also a stark reminder of environmental scarcity leading to ‘Violent Environments’. In Somalia for example, limited aid that is being given to Somalians is causing conflict between neighbouring African countries regarding the legitimacy of who deserves this aid, this environmental inequality thus leads to conflict between poorer nations over scarce resources or supplies (Al Jazeera English 2011).

Al Jazeera English. 2011. Kenya’s Growing Influence In Somalia. Available at http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/insidestory/2011/10/201110189189829781.html Accessed 23/10/2011

The Issues of Population growth and Environmental Security

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 22:02:00 -0400

The Issues of Population growth and Environmental Security:

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. This article however, does fail to make any mention of the unequal causes of this problem. The author also states that ‘the environment does not care about borders as both the causes and effects of degradation are transnational’. This is an example of Conscious Ignorance penetrating media sources as to the causes and effects of climate change as it is not in fact a shared process (Chambers 1997).

Chambers, R. 1997. Whose reality counts? Putting the first last. London: Intermediate Technology Publications.

Week 10: Organic Coffee: Gender and Export Led Development

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 21:51:02 -0400

Africa's Future and the World Bank's support to it

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 21:50:00 -0400

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 resulted in part from neoliberal economic policies such as privatisation and deregulation and the World Bank continues to pursue these policies which have proven to fail. These practices continue because in the discourse of economic growth this is seen as the most viable solution.

How Food and Water are Driving a 21st Century African Land Grab

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 21:42:00 -0400

How Food and Water are Driving a 21st Century African Land Grab:

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 harvest, while the Oromos (local area affected by land grabs) are dying from man made famine as we speak”. The purchase of this land for the purpose of ‘development’ of this land contributes to the dislocation of people as well as removing sustenance farming by privatising and commodifying land that was previously held communally by local groups throughout Africa. What is needed is regulation to ensure environmental sustainability which is the opposite of what is occurring.

Week 9: Environmental Inequalities

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 05:14:10 -0400

Tuvalu Drought could be dry run for dealing with Climate Change

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 05:13:00 -0400

Tuvalu Drought could be dry run for dealing with Climate Change:

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 examines the effects this has on the disclocation of people from Tuvalu. The Tuvalese are worried that they will lose ‘their identity, their culture, their home’.

Famine and Hope in the Horn of Africa

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 03:58:00 -0400

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 response to the drought. This is an important understanding as the people who are being affected by these brutal consequences had the least to do with creating the problem. This is an example of Conscious Ignorance (Chambers 1997). The global elites are failing to respond to this issue because they have no responsibility to and there would be no economic benefit. This shows a preference in economic growth as opposed to social or environmental justice.

Chambers, R. 1997. Whose reality counts? Putting the first last. London: Intermediate Technology Publications.

Week 8: Environmental Discourses

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 03:27:11 -0400

Disclosure Needed on Anti-Wind Farm Group's Motives

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 03:26:00 -0400

Disclosure Needed on Anti-Wind Farm Group's Motives:

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 the portrayal of an environmental discourse in order to protect vested interests in competing industries.

Reef Safeguard Cut Back

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 02:39:05 -0400

Reef Safeguard Cut Back

Week 7: Social Constructivism and the Environment

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 05:36:12 -0400

A Tainted Water Well, and Concerns There May Be More

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 05:35:00 -0400

A Tainted Water Well, and Concerns There May Be More:

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 change. Recently Coal Seam Gas has come under fire from various sources and public opinion is changing as a result.

Business as Usual is Destroying America

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 05:34:45 -0400

Business as Usual is Destroying America

Week 6: Urban Sociology and the Environment

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 05:32:11 -0400

Build Up, Not Out

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 05:31:00 -0400

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 of large multi story buildings. This also causes problems with regard to car use as the sprawl of building out creates a low urban density which in turn leads to a dependence on cars as opposed to public transport. The environmental benefits of Building up clearly outweigh the benefits of building out, however it conflicts with societies ideal of the Australian dream.

It's Not Just About Bike Lanes

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 05:29:00 -0400

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 landscape is not ideal for people wishing to cycle as a method of transport. Nor is the temperature or the vast size of Brisbane compared to many European cities which ae much more dense. Investing more money into public transport would be a better way of helping reduce car use as it is more likely to be taken up by people if we have more frequent and far reaching public transport.

Week 5: Risk society and Public Engagement

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 05:24:26 -0400

The Great Big Crazy Carbon Conspiracy

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 05:20:00 -0400

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