Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Diamond's Top 12

From "Collapse," here is Jared Diamond's most serious environmental problems facing past and present societies:
1. Destruction of natural habitats
2. Loss of wild food sources (especially fish)
3. Loss of wild species and biodiversity
4. Soil loss and damage
5. Reliance on non-renewable energy sources
6. Threats to freshwater
7. Abuse of the photosynthetic ceiling (reducing growing capacity)
8. Chemical pollution and toxic overload
9. Introduction of alien species
10. Greenhouse gas emissions (global warming) & ozone depletion
11. Unchecked population growth
12. Resource consumption & per-capita impact

What would you add to the list?

Sydney Tar Ponds


One of Canada's worst environmental disasters... the result of poor planning in the secondary economic sector.
Wikipedia article on the problem
Gov't website on cleanup efforts

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

Economic Simulations

Try this simulation of a small-scale economy and let me know what you think of it. Specifically, what did you learn about budgeting and economy?

Badger Kingdom

If you have had enough with this one, you could visit and try one of these two simulations which might get you thinking about economy...
Qpawn
Nation States (most of you have tried this one already)

Leave a comment for feedback on this activity...

Sydney Tar Ponds


One of Canada's worst environmental disasters... the result of poor planning in the secondary economic sector.
Wikipedia article on the problem
Gov't website on cleanup efforts