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Environmental Issues

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Environmental Issues
Carissa Gilson
Soc 120 introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility
Ms. Soard
8/12/2010

History of environmental ethics: It started in the late 60’s with the publications of Lynn White’s “The Historical Roots of our Ecologic Crisis” (March1967) and Garret Hardin’s “The Tragedy of the Commons” (December 1968). These publications and others started the debate into environmental issues. The first thing they needed to do was to decide what” the field of environmental ethics might look like”. There were many philosophers who got into the mix and started writing publications as well. Then in the 1990’s the International Society for Environmental Ethics was founded through the efforts of Laura Westra and Holmes Rolston, III (www.cep.unt.edu/novice). This started today’s various organizations such as Greenpeace, the earth charter initiative, the environmental protection society, friends of the earth to mention just a few. These organizations are designed to create an awareness of today’s environmental issues. Some of the issues we are facing in the future seem to have to do with global warming and its impact on the earth’s environment. The issue here seems to be our use of gas and oil and the need for an alternate energy source. There are so many thoughts as to what should be done in this area; it makes your head spin. I’m all for green technology provided it really works. It is very hard to sort out what green really means to the average person. One of the things that make it so difficult to buy into is the expense involved in “going green”. I think more people would be inclined to make the necessary change if it was more cost effective to them. Asking someone who is considered lower to middle class to spend 30 to 40 thousand dollars for a “green car” is too much to ask.
I’m not convinced that we are in desperate need of environmental

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