Earth processes have major impacts on society. Although this course focuses on scientific aspects, we hope you will use what you learn to help think about issues of public policy. Everyone in class will be assigned a short paper (5 pages + references) and class presentation (5 minutes). These should explain the issue, the proposed action you favor, and the advantages and disadvantages of this action. These are complex issues involving scientific, economic, societal, and policy questions for which there is no right answer. Hence to each question the answer can be "Yes", "Yes, but...", "No", or "No, but...”. Your presentation should argue for the proposal or a modified version, or against it and present an alternative. After these have been presented in class, everyone will turn in a one-paragraph response explaining which of the alternatives they favor and why. The paper and presentation will count for 10% of the course grade, and your responses to the other presentations will total another 10%.
Transcript
Earth processes have major impacts on society. Although this course focuses on scientific aspects, we hope you will use what you learn to help think about issues of public policy.
Everyone in class will be assigned a short paper (5 pages + references) and class presentation (5 minutes). These should explain the issue, the proposed action you favor, and the advantages and disadvantages of this action. These are complex issues involving scientific, economic, societal, and policy questions for which there is no right answer. Hence to each question the answer can be "Yes", "Yes, but...", "No", or "No, but...”. Your presentation should argue for the proposal or a modified version, or against it and present an alternative.
After these have been presented in class, everyone will turn in a one-paragraph response explaining which of the alternatives they favor and why.
The paper and presentation will count for 10% of the course grade, and your responses to the other presentations will total another 10%.
SHOULD NEW ORLEANS BE REBUILT IN ITS PRESENT LOCATION?
The enormous destruction to New Orleans by hurricane Katrina had been predicted for years, because the city is below sea level and human actions caused land subsidence along the coast that increased the destructive power of hurricanes. Some argue that the city should not be rebuilt at its present site, since it would be at risk of a similar disaster. Others argue that the site is too important culturally, economically, and historically to abandon, and that it can be made safe.
Questions:
What caused the damage?
How did environmental policies contribute?
What should be done differently?
Should the city be rebuilt at its present site?
SHOULD BUILDING BE ALLOWED IN THE MISSISSIPPI FLOOD PLAIN?
Despite recurrent flooding, building continues in the Mississippi River’s flood plain. The greater St. Louis metropolitan area has $2.2 billion in new development on land that was under water in 1993 — 18,000 acres either in construction behind levees or in the planning stages.
Questions:
What happened in 1993?
How did past environmental policies contribute?
What should be done differently?
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
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SHOULD OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION BE ALLOWED IN THE ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE?
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska includes the largest wilderness area in the U.S. and is home to many animals. It may also contain large oil and gas deposits. Drilling proponents argue that these can be extracted with great benefits to the U.S. and little harm to wildlife. Opponents argue that the effect on U.S. oil supplies would be small and the environmental impact large.
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Questions:
What are the risks and benefits of exploration and production here?
Should this be done?
SHOULD MORE FUEL-EFFICIENT VEHICLES BE REQUIRED BY LAW?
One approach to reducing carbon dioxide emissions and the demand for oil is to require more fuel-efficient vehicles. A recent proposal would require manufacturers to make pickup trucks, minivans and some sport utility vehicles more fuel efficient. Critics note that the plan would not apply to the largest SUVs,and passenger cars also would not be covered by the changes. Some argue for more stringent standards, whereas others favor letting market forces (high prices) reduce demand, and others favor higher taxes.
Questions: What is the problem?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of different proposed solutions?
SHOULD THE U.S. BEGIN A NEW PROGRAM OF MANNED SPACE EXPLORATION?
President Bush has proposed a plan to return Americans to the moon by 2020 and use the moon as a stepping stone for future manned trips to Mars and beyond. Proponents argue for national leadership in space and benefits of exploration. Opponents argue that the benefits are small and the large costs could be better spent otherwise.
Questions:
What is the plan?
What are its costs and benefits?
Should this be done?
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
SHOULD THE U.S. RATIFY THE KYOTO PROTOCOL?
The Kyoto Protocol to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change is an international treaty on global warming. Countries ratifying it commit to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases. There has been much argument about many aspects of the treaty, including the fact that large developing countries are not required to meet specific targets for now, and whether the gains from the treaty justify the costs of implementing it.
Questions:
What is global warming and the greenhouse effect?
What is the treaty designed to accomplish and how?
What are the treaty's strengths and weaknesses?
Should the U.S. sign it and why?
SHOULD PEOPLE LIVING NEAR VESUVIUS BE PAID TO RELOCATE?
Almost 2000 years ago, Pompeii and other cities near Naples, Italy were destroyed by an eruption of the volcano Vesuvius. Since the last eruption in 1944, the Bay of Naples region has been a hotbed of construction - much of it unplanned and illegal - that hugely increased the number of people living in the danger zone of the volcano. Millions of people may be affected by the next eruption, with those in the "red zone" (zona rossa) under the most serious threat. The authorities are now considering paying these people to relocate.
Questions:
What causes the hazard?
How serious is it?
What plans are proposed?
Do they or similar plans make sense and why?
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
SHOULD HOTELS IN THAILAND DAMAGED BY THE DECEMBER 2004 TSUNAMI BE REBUILT ON THE BEACH?
Many lives were lost when the December 2004 tsunami damaged coastal communities in Thailand. Among the deaths were tourists staying at popular beach resorts. The question of whether these hotels should be rebuilt on the beach involves trying to balance their economic benefit with the risk of future tsunamis.
Questions: What caused the tsunami?
What were its effects?
What are the risks and benefits of rebuilding the beach resorts?
Should this be done?
SHOULD NUCLEAR WASTE BE BURIED AT YUCCA MOUNTAIN?
The U.S. Department of Energy plans to dispose of nuclear waste by burying it at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. Proponents argue that the waste can be buried safely and that disposing of it is crucial to a successful nuclear energy program. Opponents argue that this is environmentally dangerous.
Questions: What is nuclear waste? What is the Yucca Mountain plan?
What are the safety issues?
Should the plan go forward and why?
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
SHOULD THERE BE FEDERAL DISASTER INSURANCE?
Some have proposed the the government should insure home & business owners against various natural disasters, in a way similar to the
compensation paid after the 9/11 attacks. Proponents argue that this would protect the public, especially those who cannot afford insurance. Opponents
argue that this encourages construction in unsafe locations and would be very expensive. Questions:
How could such a plan work?
Does it encourage activity that should be discouraged Is it unfair?
Would this be better than having people buy private insurance?
