CNS World Studies Hybrid 2014-15

5/15 - Environmental Geography

Environmental Geography
Sustainable Development
Much of the worlds news coverage focuses on the future of the global environment
due to climate change and fossil fuel resource use. But sustainable development is
about much more than that.
1. To learn about Sustainable Development, read the Harvard report entitled What
is Sustainable Development? Notice that sustainable development does not only
apply to physical resources & raw materials, but also human systems and
progress. Make a list of examples of items that are to be sustained, items to be
developed and state how long are these to be sustained? Put the list on your
website.
a. To be sustained
i. Climate
ii. clean air
iii. land and ocean productivity
iv. biodiversity
v. fresh water
vi. Ecosystem services
vii. natural resources
viii. cultural elements
b. To be developed
i. Dignity
ii. Equity
iii. Peace
iv. Employment
v. Health
vi. Education
vii. Profitability
c. To be sustained for current and future generations (whether thats 1
year or 50 years)
2. Choose an NGO operating in a foreign country. Explain the actions or programs
that the NGO is implementing there and how it is contributing to the sustainable
development of the community it is working in. Prepare a brief report for the
donors to the NGO that explains how their money is being spent wisely and
accomplishing the goals the NGO set out to achieve. Put the report on your
website.
a. Handicap International provides crucial assistance to vulnerable
people around the world. It was formed in 1982 by two French
doctors to help Cambodians injured by landmines and now it has
grown to assist those disabled due to armed conflict, natural disasters,
injury, disease and poverty. This NGO operates in over 60 countries
and runs projects in emergency relief, humanitarian de-mining, risk

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5/15 - Environmental Geography
education, rehabilitation, prevention of disabling diseases and more.
Handicap International works with the local resources and
communities and works to share knowledge and build systems to treat
and prevent disabilities. Internationally, the NGO has been especially
affective in raising awareness of critical issues for the disabled and
advocating for policies that address their specific needs.
3. Because the Earths physical environment plays such a key role in sustaining
human life on planet Earth, all good citizens must pay attention to their ecological
footprint. Take the ecological footprint quiz from the Earth Day Network, and see
how many planets would be required if everyone lived like you. Screenshot your
results and put them on your website.

4. Since many of the current and future citizens of our planet desire a modern and
high standard of living, the strain on resources is only likely to get worse. Special
attention is paid to fossil fuels since they finite and provide for most of the
worlds current energy needs. But how realistic is it to move to renewable energy
sources and maintain our current standard of living? Watch physicist David
Mackays TED talk Reality Check on Renewables. Which 2 renewable energy
sources provide the most efficient and realistic production possibilities in the
future? Write an email message to a US legislator expressing your fact-based
opinion on one renewable technology. Copy my email address when you send it.
a. Solar panels in desserts
b. Nuclear power
Greetings Senator Klobuchar,
I wanted to email you about the possibility of solar power in deserts as
an alternative energy opportunity. Solar power is a clean, renewable
energy source with zero carbon emissions. In the desert, solar panels
can extract so much energy due to the constant sun exposure and
heat. If only 1/18th of the land area of the Sahara desert were covered
with solar panels, it would make enough power for all of Europe and

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5/15 - Environmental Geography
Northern Africa. Here in the United States, we have a large amount of
desert covering Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, California and more. If
we were to invest in solar power plants in parts of these desert states
we would be able to provide the country with a vast amount of energy
while also reducing our carbon footprint on the Earth. California
already has one of the largest solar plants in the world, and if more
plants could be produced, I do believe it could be beneficial to our
country and the world. Solar power makes sense and if we can find a
way to fund these projects, the United States could be a super power
in the clean energy of the Earth.
Thank you for your consideration,
Kylie Dahlgren