Difference between revisions of "Chem321:Problem Set 1"

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First assignment for 2013.
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First assignment for 2015.
  
Please type up your answers in Microsoft Word, Word Perfect, OpenOffice Writer or RTF file format, and email to me before midnight on Monday, July 15th, 2013.  Do not post your answers on the wiki.  All answers should be in YOUR OWN WORDS, except for a few direct quotes (given with attribution).
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Please type up your answers in Microsoft Word, Word Perfect, OpenOffice/LibreOffice Writer or RTF file format, and email to me before midnight on Monday, July 13th, 2015.  Do not post your answers on the wiki.  All answers should be in YOUR OWN WORDS, except for a few direct quotes (given with attribution).
  
# Explain briefly the meaning of the following terms: Sustainable development, Agenda 21, social democracy, FTSE4Good, Technocrats (pre-WW2 meaning), Industrial Revolution, Externalities, Triple Bottom Line, Tragedy of the Commons.
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# Explain briefly the meaning of the following terms: Sustainable development, Agenda 21, democratic socialism, DJSI (a stock market index), the London Array, Industrial Revolution, Externalities, Triple Bottom Line, Tragedy of the Commons.
# What are China's* 2015 goals for reductions in carbon dioxide?
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# (~100-150 words) What targets were set for 2030 for China,* following talks between President Obama and President Xi Jinping in November 2014?  Why do some scientists believe that 2030 is too far in the future?
# (a)(~300 words) Explain how poverty in Mozambique is leading to environmental damage in coastal areas.  What specific problems are noted in the BBC report on the topic?<br/>(b) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chico_Mendes Chico Mendes] once said, "Poverty is the enemy of the environment."  Try to suggest '''specific''' ways that poverty may harm the environment or inadvertently help the environment; the BBC report may help.  
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# (a)(~200 words) Present some main arguments given by "climate realists" such as Marc Morano to show/claim that climate change is '''not''' real, and any changes are not linked to carbon dioxide levels.
 
# (100-200 words) On p4 of Hill, '''equity''' is given as an essential component of sustainable development.  Explain why.
 
# (100-200 words) On p4 of Hill, '''equity''' is given as an essential component of sustainable development.  Explain why.
# (200-300 words) Explain Malthus's hypothesis on population growth.  Have his predictions come true?  Explain.
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# (200 words) Explain Malthus's hypothesis on population growth.  Have his predictions come true?  Explain.
 
# (100-200 words) Are there limits to economic growth?  Explain your answer.
 
# (100-200 words) Are there limits to economic growth?  Explain your answer.
# (~200 words) What does Lester Brown believe is wrong with the present system of economics?  How can the market system be changed so that people begin to make economic choices that take into the environmental costs?
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# (300 words) Compare [https://pluto.potsdam.edu/wikichem/images/2/26/KleinReadingUnit2.pdf Naomi Klein's view] with [http://www.nesgeorgia.org/files/free_market_environmentalism.pdf that of Richard Stroup] regarding how capitalism intersects with the environment.  Point out what you would see as a flaw in either one of these arguments.
#(~200 words) Taking into consideration your answers to the previous two questions, give your own hypothesis for the future.  Do you think Brown's approach is viable?  Do not just give your "feelings," you must try to argue your case rationally using scientific evidence (where possible) to support your hypothesis.
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#(~200 words) Taking into consideration your answers to the previous two questions, give your own hypothesis for effective, sustainable development.  Do you think Stroup's free-market approach is the most appropriate, or [http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE|A351687016&v=2.1&u=potsdam_main&it=r&p=STND&sw=w&asid=204ea89babcbcde061de2877844b7f59 Bjorn Lomborg's view], or should government be more involved - if so, how?  Do not just give your "feelings," you must try to argue your case rationally using scientific evidence (where possible) to support your hypothesis.
  
 
<nowiki>*</nowiki><small>In this course, "China" refers to the People's Republic of China, excluding Taiwan, unless otherwise stated.
 
<nowiki>*</nowiki><small>In this course, "China" refers to the People's Republic of China, excluding Taiwan, unless otherwise stated.
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[[Category:Chemistry 321]]
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[[Category:Chemistry 321]]
 
[[Category:Chemistry 321]]

Latest revision as of 00:49, 10 July 2015

THE SUSTAINABLE
WORLD
(Chemistry 321)
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First assignment for 2015.

Please type up your answers in Microsoft Word, Word Perfect, OpenOffice/LibreOffice Writer or RTF file format, and email to me before midnight on Monday, July 13th, 2015. Do not post your answers on the wiki. All answers should be in YOUR OWN WORDS, except for a few direct quotes (given with attribution).

  1. Explain briefly the meaning of the following terms: Sustainable development, Agenda 21, democratic socialism, DJSI (a stock market index), the London Array, Industrial Revolution, Externalities, Triple Bottom Line, Tragedy of the Commons.
  2. (~100-150 words) What targets were set for 2030 for China,* following talks between President Obama and President Xi Jinping in November 2014? Why do some scientists believe that 2030 is too far in the future?
  3. (a)(~200 words) Present some main arguments given by "climate realists" such as Marc Morano to show/claim that climate change is not real, and any changes are not linked to carbon dioxide levels.
  4. (100-200 words) On p4 of Hill, equity is given as an essential component of sustainable development. Explain why.
  5. (200 words) Explain Malthus's hypothesis on population growth. Have his predictions come true? Explain.
  6. (100-200 words) Are there limits to economic growth? Explain your answer.
  7. (300 words) Compare Naomi Klein's view with that of Richard Stroup regarding how capitalism intersects with the environment. Point out what you would see as a flaw in either one of these arguments.
  8. (~200 words) Taking into consideration your answers to the previous two questions, give your own hypothesis for effective, sustainable development. Do you think Stroup's free-market approach is the most appropriate, or Bjorn Lomborg's view, or should government be more involved - if so, how? Do not just give your "feelings," you must try to argue your case rationally using scientific evidence (where possible) to support your hypothesis.

*In this course, "China" refers to the People's Republic of China, excluding Taiwan, unless otherwise stated.