Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Blog 14

     I think that the process of environmental policy is just like that of any other new law or policy. It has to be voted and agreed upon by multiple different political parties which stagnate its progress like anything else. Another reason environmental policy hasn't taken root is because in many ways it would hinder profits and cause those people to resent it. I think the US should have ratified the Kyoto Protocol  simply because of the effect we have on other nations, we are a role model to them. Other countries want to be like the U.S. and if we adopt green policies, other countries are likely to follow our lead.
     I think that green policies need to start at the local level and as it gains momentum it will spread to the national and eventually an international level.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Blog #13

Questions: What do you think of ecofeminism before you read, and after? Did you have any strong reactions? What forms of dominance do you see in the world around you?

     To be honest, before I read I thought ecofeminism was just a way of attaching a feminine aspect to ecological issues/aims. I didn't think about it with regards to a deeper meaning of outward dominance by man over woman and nature as one. After reading, I was able to see how the relationship between domination over women and nature are very much alike. I agree with the idea that women are closer to nature than men, and that the exploitation and disregard of our environment correlates to the perpetual degradation and subordination of women in society. I don't agree with the notion that our species is the only one with a hierarchal structure and that it isn't found in nature. In most mammals there is an order to the groups of species and at the top is almost always an alpha male. This can be seen with dogs, deer, lions, tigers and bears (oh my!) and many others in which a male is at the head of the "social" order.
     I think that ecofeminism could potentially gain widespread support in society especially in our world today. There are many groups that are concerned with the environment and many that are still concerned with women's equality to men (mostly political now) and they could incorporate similar goals to foster support towards a unified goal. "...We need a decentralized global movement that is founded on common interests yet celebrates diversity and opposed all forms of domination and violence." Supporters think that ecofeminism is the movement that will bring this change. Although I think it is a good idea, it is just that, an idea. I don't think that there will ever be enough faith in humanity to cease the development of armies and nuclear weapons or that we will stop exploiting our resources until we have to go to a museum to see some trees. It is inherent in human nature to be dominant and unfortunately our species will continue to be the cause of displacement and extinction of many other species.
     The main ecofeminist point that I agree with is that we would not survive without nature, but nature could survive without us. I think the only way for other species to live in harmony is with the removal of the human race, only then will the natural world be able to prosper again.