| Section 040 Wednesday 6PM - 9PM Kelley Engineering 1001 CRN 13300 |
| Friedman, Thomas, Hot, Flat, and Crowded, Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. New York |
| Quizzes (15@ 16 pts.) | 240 |
| Recitation Attendance 5 @ 20 pts. | 100 |
| Project [1 @ 100 pts.] | 100 |
| Critical Thinking Papers: | |
| First Paper = 30 pts. | |
| Second Paper = 60 pts. | |
| Third Paper = 90 pts. | |
| Fourth Paper = 100 pts. | 280 |
| CLASS TOTAL (Approx.) = | 720 |
| 93% and above | = A | 90-92.9 | = A- |
| 87-89.9 | = B+ | 83-86.9 | = B |
| 80.9-82.9 | = B- | 77-79.9 | = C+ |
| 73-77.9 | = C | 70-73.9 | = C- |
| 67-69.9 | = D+ | 63-66.9 | = D |
| 60-63.9 | = D- | Below 60% | = Fail |
| Week # 1-9/30 | First Hour: Who I am and why you should listen to what I have to say.
Second Hour Sustainability. Is it really a hardship and more expensive to live more sustainably? Quiz fodder: Sustainability in Oregon. (glean three definitions) Quiz Fodder: Friedman: Part I, Chap. 1 "Green is not simply a new form of generating electric power. It is a new form of generating national power--period." This quote gives you an idea of what I believe is the "essence" of this chapter. You synopsize it and come to the quiz with your notes or highlighted text. Blowing off these readings will cost you over and over on the quizzes. You won't have time during the quiz to look at a chapter cold and answer the question to my satisfaction. Quiz Fodder: Friedman: Part I, Chap. 2 "Hot, Flat, and Crowded." The Chapter title is the title of the book, and thus the "essence" of this chapter. Be able to explain the component parts and their implications as we move into the 20th century. Quiz fodder: "China's Green Leap Forward Be able to briefly explain three examples of "China's Green Leap Forward." ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT WEEK Recitation: Go to the Weblink below for October 7: Do this stuff BEFORE coming to class NEXT WEEK. You'll turn in half page (125 words) on each for credit. In Geo 300, a "page" equals 250 words. We encourage hand written and/or junk (used) paper for this assignment (+1 bonus point) Third Hour: Go With TAs to RecitationsTAs and Rooms: Personal Impact. Do this assignment BEFORE coming to class NEXT WEEK. Assignment # 1: Carbon Calculator Critical Thinking Paper # 1 due NEXT WEEK, October 7 in class. We don't take stuff late--few exceptions. |
| Week # 2-10/7 | First Hour: Over population and Over consumption I--how we got here.
Reference-T.R. Malthus "Essay on Population." Quiz fodder-Population Numbers. What is today's World Population? U.S. Population? What was the population when you were born? Total Increase since then? Percent increase? Quiz fodder-Are we making too many Americans? A straightforward Christian Science Monitor article on the impact of new American babies. Well, Are we? Have two strong points from the article. Second Hour: Over population and over consumption II--where we are headed. "What am I doing in this handbasket and where are we going???" Quiz fodder: Friedman, Part II, Chapter 3. The "essence" of this chapter is the idea of an "Americum." Understand this concept both from our perspective as Americans, and from other's perspectives, e.g. China. How we got here, where we are going, solutions, etc. Quiz fodder-"What is your Consumption Level?" Jerod Diamond, "What is your consumption level?" What does Jerod say? Two important points. Third Hour Haiti slide show. Stay in Lecture Hall, Don't go to Recitation rooms Quiz fodder-Haiti News for current news of Haiti. Know 2 current events. Reference-Haitian Culture For Haitian Cultural, Music, etc. Quiz Fodder-Lifeboat Ethics Garrett Hardin's famous essay "Lifeboat Ethics." Hardin wrote this in 1974. Does this apply to Haiti (may require a bit more research on your part to explain) Use specific examples from Hardin. Quiz Fodder: Friedman, Part III, Chapter 9; "205 Easy Ways to Save the Earth" I love this quote "It's better to be hypocritical than apathetic when it comes to the environment" (p 216). The "essence" of this chapter is that it isn't going to be easy to save the planet. Why? Think about the "easy eight" on page 212-13. Where do we start and why? Critical Thinking Paper # 1 Due in class. We don't take stuff late--don't even ask. Very few exceptions. |
| Week # 3- 10/14 | First Hour Guerilla Sustainability--Reduce your resource footprint.
Quiz Fodder Friedman, Chapter 4 "Fill 'Er Up with Dictators." The essence is that we should care about imports. Why? Is he correct in his analysis? What are his conclusions/solutions? Quiz fodder: Friedman, Chapter 12 "If It Isn't Boring, It Isn't Green." The essence here is that we shouldn't feel the need to use the term "green" anymore, as these measures should be the norm. Find examples of what he is talking about. Quiz Fodder-Gray Water-Recode There are six headings under "Contents" be able to write intelligently about TWO of the first five. Reference Here is the current status of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Rulemaking process on graywater use--it'll be awhile. Quiz Fodder-Rainwater Collection System How do these babies work? Good for? Problems? Second Hour: Sustainability up close and personal Let's start at the bottom--yours. What do Environmental Heroes use for toilet paper? Quiz fodder-Steven Colbert on using recycled content toilet tissue. Know three "real" points from the video. Quiz fodder-Paper Definitions Know 3 important ones. Quiz Fodder "The Green Life" This Website has a nice little rating scale for household care paper products. Click on "Recycled Tissue and Toilet Paper guide" in the third paragraph. Why should we care? Click on "Dioxins" at the end of the same paragraph. What's going on in Maine? Quiz fodder Friedman, Chapter 6. "The Age of Noah." "If we destabilize nature by degrading it," [Edward O.] Wilson continued "the organisms most affected are likely to be the largest and most complex, including human beings." and " . . . the impact of globalization is metastasizing to cause what is already being called the earth's sixth great mass extinction." The essence of this chapter is that biodiversity is going away. Have three examples to support what Wilson is talking about. Quiz fodder Friedman, Chapter 13. "A Million Noahs, a Million Arks." The essence here is that all conservation is local. Have three examples of these arks, and whether you think his solutions are the correct ones. Third Hour Personal Waste Reduction Cook's "Five Point Plan" Go to Lecture Room, NOT Recitation Rooms Reference-Allied Waste for services of Allied Waste (Corvallis Disposal). Reference-Plastic to Oil A little video on converting plastic waste directly back into oil. Quiz Fodder-Oregon "E-Cycle" Don't know about Oregon "E-Cycle?" On the left side of the page find "Read the FAQs" and have information on TWO. Reference-OSU Recycling Services Check out their quarterly newsletter. Quiz Fodder-StRUT program What is the essence of its operation? Quiz fodder-"Japanese Influential" What is possible. Under "Japan Influential" see the three links under "Part 2 of 3" There is a text article, and two video clips. Investigate ONE and be able to explain what is going on. |
| Week # 4-10/21 | First Hour: Erosion (Some lecture some Slides). Why is the Mediterranean Basin all rocks?
Quiz fodder-Oregon Erosion What is the information being presented in the first and third tables? Quiz fodder-Global Erosion From a Cornell University Study. As usual, know three points. Quiz fodder- Conquest of the land through 7,000 years for a classic look at Mediterranean erosion. Have three significant points (or examples) from Loudermilk's paper. And what is the "Eleventh Commandment" at the end of the paper? Yeah, I know it is long--learn to read for content if it doesn't interest you. Read the preface, skim some heading that you find interesting, and the last couple of pages. But, combined with the above article on global erosion and the lecture, you should find this sobering. As the Cornell study says, soil erosion is second only to population as a threat to long-term human sustainability. Second Hour:Open forum--Karaoke if you like. You bring the topic and Cook will sing. Seriously, we've dedicated one lecture period to Q and A the last few terms and students found it worthwhile. Bring you questions, concerns, conjectures, challenges, and I'll answer the best I can. Student input is welcomed also. Quiz Fodder-Federal Stimulus Package-Consumers This "Energy Star" webpage clearly explains how homeowners can become more energy efficient and get a Federal tax credit at the same time. What intrigues you the most? Have three possibilities. Quiz Fodder: Friedman, Chapter 9, "205 Easy Ways to Save the Earth." " "In the green revolution we're having, everyone's a winner, nobody has to give up anything, and the adjective that most often modifies 'green revolution' is 'easy.' That's not a revolution. That's a party." And: "Never has so little been asked of so many at such a critical moment." comes a close second (page 207). The essence here is that we aren't doing enough, and "doing enough" will not be easy or pain free. Have three examples from the book to support your own beliefs. Quiz Fodder: Friedman, Chapter 5, "Global Weirding--Climate Change" The Unknown (Poetry by former Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld) "As we know, There are known knowns. There are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns. That is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns, The ones we don't know we don't know." Feb. 12, 2002, Department of Defense news briefing Can we chance not looking for the things we don't know we don't know? Friedman says (page 116) "The climate-change deniers want us all to believe that we are playing with dice that can only come up somewhere between two and twelve--with two being no climate change and twelve being the wild, crazy, outside possibility that something Al Gore says might come true. Sorry, boys, but these are Mother Nature's dice. They are like those polyhedral dice in the game Dungeons and Dragons. They are twenty-sided, thirty-sided, even sixty-sided dice. Don't think that they can only come up twelve. They might come up sixty." Essence? Figure it out--read the chapter. Third Hour Go to Recitation RoomsTAs and Rooms Recitation discussion will be on the Federal Stimulus Package "Green Options" For Credit, you need to come to class with a one-page write-up (250 words) complete with citations. Investigate TWO items that interest you. For example, at the macro scale you could investigate how nuclear energy fared; and then go to the micro scale and investigate the criteria for new roofs and windows for homeowners. Or look into Wind Power. Or Geothermal. Or what makes some metal roof qualify for a tax credit? Or King Coal. Critical Thinking Paper # 2 due NEXT WEEK, October 28 in recitation. |
| Week # 5-10/28 |
First Hour: Farming Systems
Reference: The Food Alliance. Quiz fodder-Organic Food Ten reasons to buy organic food. and for a comprehensive look at Organic Food and Farming. What is their mission statement? Sooooo, what are three good reasons for buying organic food? Quiz fodder-Organic Consumers Associationfor Organic Consumers Association. What is its mission? Be able to synopsize a problem that this organization is currently addressing. Reference-Ten Rivers Food Web Source for all things related to local/sustainable food in the South Willamette Valley. Reference for information on local Farmer's Markets. Second Hour: Grow and Preserve Your Own Food/Coffee, Cocoa, Milk Reference: This website answers most of the questions that home canners would ask. Reference-"Consumer Guide to rBST free milk in Oregon Go to the list of links part way down the page and click on "Consumer Guide." Quiz Fodder-Transfair USA What does "Fair Trade Certified" really mean???? Click on the "YouTube" icon, lower right and watch the video. Have three things that "Fair Trade" means to the Grower/Producer. Third Hour: Group Project Work Day. Go to Recitation Rooms TAs and Rooms Attendance worth 20 points. Critical Thinking Paper # 2 due in recitation. |
| Week # 6-11/4 |
First Hour Renewable Energy
Click here for Cook's Powerpoint on Wind Energy. Click here for Cook's Powerpoint on Concentrating Solar Energy. Click here for a little spoof on the idea of Clean Coal. Quiz Fodder-Clean Coal Here come the Chinese again, licensing their technology to us For those who want to know just a bit more on Chinese Clean Coal: Reference:Chinese Clean coal # 2 While we dither, they are just doing it. Quiz Fodder-Blue Sky for info on Pacific Power "Blue Sky" program. Three significant points? Reference: for wind power in the US. Click on "Projects" to see what is happening in Oregon. Reference: Check out a video of "Solar One" concentrated solar in Nevada. It's amazing. Quiz fodder: for Oregon's tax rebates for buying energy efficient appliances (investigate ONE appliance) and have three significant points about THAT APPLIANCE. Quiz Fodder Friedman, Chapter Eleven. "The Stone Age Didn't End Because We Ran Out of Stones." What the heck? Try this one from Henry Ford: "If I'd asked my customers what they wanted, they'd have said a faster horse." The essence of this chapter is the need for innovation in all its forms, from government policies to increased R and D. Have three examples of the type of innovation Friedman is advocating. Second Hour: Oregon Public Broadcasting video: The Oregon Story: Water" Quiz fodder for a good overview of Oregon water law. What are three important points? Quiz fodder-The Freshwater Trust. Good people doing good things for the common good. Third Hour: Bottled Water. Bottled Water--use and environmental implications (presented by TAs) Go to Lecture Hall, NOT Recitation room Click here for Bottled Water Powerpoint developed by Dr. Todd Jarvis. Quiz fodder for Stephen Colbert's segment called "Aqua Colbert." Is he making valid points? Explain. Quiz fodder- "Bottled vs. Tap" A Christian Science Monitor article. titled "Bottled vs. Tap." Three solid points from the article. |
| Week # 7-11/11 |
First Hour: Guest Speaker: Tyler Jones, Afton Field Farm on his "Grass Management" operation, which
incidentally produces humanely raised meat animals.
Quiz fodder-Joel Salatin Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms was the first to use the system that Tyler uses to raise meat. Click on "Principles" on the left and know three of them. Quiz fodder-Country Natural Beef Country Natural Beef--A "natural" alternative. Click on "FAQs" and find the two questions that best fit your own inquisitiveness and be able to give both question and response. Reference-Southern Willamette Valley Bean and Grain Project From growing grass to growing food in the Willamette Valley. What are the incentives and impediments to growing beans and grain in the S. Willamette Valley? Reference-Large Scale Organics an Oxymoron? Can we trust the "big guys" not to cheat? Reference-Spoiled: Organic and local is so 2008." Mother Jones has the right answer--at least according to Mother Jones. (Mother Jones is a very left leaning magazine, so the conclusions in this article seem to be not in keeping with that liberalism.) What to glean? Overviw of the problem, and the suggested solution. Second Hour Animal Welfare: What do we owe the animals that feed us? Not Quiz fodder--and not for the faint of heart, either. Click on the photo of the down cow to see what the Humane Society of the US found in their undercover investigation. Quiz Fodder-Oregon SB 694 Know three points from this bill passed by the 2007 legislature? Reference:Chicken Outlaws A funny little hip-hop video related to the refusal of Salem to allow backyard chickens. Quiz Fodder For an NPR interview with Jonathan Safran Foer the author of "Eating Animals." Have two significant points from this interview. Quiz Fodder For a New York Times opinion piece by Nicolette Hahn Niman, a lawyer and livestoci rancher, is the author of "A Righteous Porkchop: Finding a Life and Good Food Beyond Factory Farms." She makes clear distinctions between grass fed animals and CAFO. Know two. And don't forget to know what a "CAFO" is. Reference-California Prop. 2 More encompassing than Oregon's new law. Quiz fodder-Animal Welfare For a sobering animated bit of Industrial animal production. They are a takeoff on "The Matrix." What is the point of these videos? Watch at least one and be able to synopsize it. Reference-Certified Meat. For an organization that certifies humane animal treatment. Third Hour: Group Presentations. Go To Recitations TAs and Rooms Critical Thinking Paper # 3 due Next Week, November 18 in Recitation. |
| Week # 8-11/18 | First Hour: Pesticides and Household Chemicals Environmental Heroes use vinegar and baking
soda to clean up (and Bon Ami, of course "Hasn't Scratched Yet").
Reference:Safe Households, From Metro in Portland Reference: Jon Stewart Show Video on Organic Food vs. Conventional Food Reference: Follow-up to the Jon Stewart Video above, this is a "typical" article on the American Council on Science and Health Website. Reference for Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry. I believe that this Federal Government agency is the best source of information on toxics. Quiz Fodder-Pesticides in Food A nice little webpage, but notice part way down where you can sign up for the "Pesticide in Produce" guide, which identifies the produce that you should buy organic and the produce that doesn't contain so many chemical residues. Note the six "dirtiest" and six "cleanest." Quiz fodder The National Pesticide Information Center tries to do more than list toxics. What did you find particularly useful on this website? Do a search on "Bedbugs" for some cool stuff--recognize any of the symptoms? Reference Take a look at these plastic containers and what is in them. Learn what to avoid. Reference A really good reference list to help better understand the toxic substances in plastics. Quiz fodder-Household Chemicals for a household chemicals database. Look up two chemicals you use. Quiz fodder: Vinegar, Baking Soda, and Lemon. Be able to discuss a good use of each one from this website. Second Hour: Synthetic Chemicals. Treated Lumber; Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products. Quiz fodder-Trex What makes TREX "environmentally friendly." Reference for information on plastic lumber. Quiz Fodder-NCAP Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides. What is their mission? What is one "Program?" What is one "Publications and Information." Quiz Fodder-GoodGuide This webpage covers a wide range of products and rates them. On Upper left see: "Find Safe, Healthy and Green Products." Follow this link for TWO items and note the results for a quiz. Reference Here is a link to "Greenlivingonline". It it a discussion of "Six Make-up Chemicals to Avoid." Should be particularly useful for women. Reference Here is a place to buy toxic-free personal care products and a source of ingredients from which to make your own. Reference The book "Natural Beauty at Home" has recipies in it to make your own personal care products. Reference For a link to the book "Not Just a Pretty Face: The ugly side of the beauty industry." It is the unvarnished, sobering, frightening truth about the stuff we put onto our bodies. Reference For a link to the book "Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products and What's at Stake for American Power." The government is not looking out for your welfare. Third Hour: Group Presentations. Go To Recitations TAs and Rooms Critical Thinking Paper # 3 due in Recitation. |
| Week # 9-11/25 |
First Hour: The Smart Grid Quiz fodder: Friedman, Chapter 10, "The Energy Internet." This is so cool, that I've written a lecture on the topic. The essence is a "smart grid" and its pervasive efficiency from you and me to the producers of energy. Be able to clearly explain the "Energy Internet" as presented by Friedman. Quiz fodder: Friedman, Chapter 14, "Outgreening al-Qaeda (or buy one get four free)." The essence here is "outgreening your competition" which gives you a competitive advantage." Be able to clearly explain what "outgreening your competition" means--not just something from the first two paragraphs of the chapter--I read it all. Reference The NPR website referenced in class. Reference Check out GE's cool animation. Reference Bill Gross on small scale concentrating solar. Second Hour: Public Land Reference: "Oregon's Public Lands." Reference Sustainable Forest Initiative. The Timber Industry's idea of sustainable forests. Reference Forest Stewardship Council. The Environmental/Conservationist community's idea of sustainable forests. Quiz Fodder For a Yale University study comparing SFI and FSC standards. Be able to identify three significant differences. Quiz Fodder-Oregon Natural Desert Association List three solid facts that would define this organization. Quiz Fodder-Coast Range Associates List three solid facts that would define this organization. Reference HJ Andrews Experimental Forest. Go take a look--there is a 2 mile "Old Growth Trail." Take the road on the right side of the river, then go a ways (sorry I can't remember how far) watching for the trail sign on the right. Or drive to the end of the road and walk back on the trail. No Third Hour: No Class. Give Thanks that you were born in this great country with plenty of nutritious, safefood to give thanks with. |
| Week # 10-12/2 | First Hour: Chinese Synergy--the look of things to come.
Quiz fodder China Watch Environmental News from China. Have three points from one article on this website. Quiz fodder: Friedman, Chapter 15, "Can Red China Become Green China?" Essence of this one? Does he answer the question he poses to your satisfaction? Quiz fodder: Friedman, Chapter 16, "China for a Day (but Not for Two)" Essence? It's in the last paragraph of page 372 and first paragraph of page 373. Then read the rest of it for examples of what he is talking about. Second Hour: Concluding remarks and Course Evaluation. Quiz Fodder: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. What is its mission? What have they been doing lately? Quiz fodder: Albanian Alps Institute. What is its mission? What have they been doing lately? Quiz fodder: Friedman, Chapter 17, "A Democratic China, or a Banana Republic?" Essence? This is Friedman's challenge to the US. What do you think, can your generation get us out of this mess, or are we doomed? Third Hour: Group Presentations. Go to Recitations TAs and Rooms |