Transcript PPT
The Need for the Full Picture When we examine issues in isolation, we risk not getting the “full picture” We must analyze issues from an interdisciplinary perspective in order to fully comprehend the issue, which is necessary for developing sustainable solutions Geography’s Interdisciplinary Lenses * Social * Political * Economic * Environmental * Cultural Using&Interdisciplinary&Lenses& Climate&Change&Exemplar& Category& & & Social& & Causes& · · · & & Political& & & & & Economic& & & · · · · · & & Environmental& & & · & & Cultural& & & · · · · Implications&& Lack% of% education% about% negative% impacts% of% burning% fossil% fuels%in% the% past% Western% society%values% convenience% over% environmental% sustainability% Environment% valued% for%economic% purposes,% profit% % % Many% governments% and% leaders% don’t% want% to% enforce% strict% environmental% laws/policies% Lack% of% political% will% · In% the% past,% industries%and% gov’t% saw% environmental% protection% as% costing% more%money%than% it% was% worth% Manufacture% more% =% more% profit% (e.g.% deforestation% to% make% money% =% loss% of% carbon% sinks)% Cheaper% production% =% more% profit% · Greenhouse% gases% in% atmosphere% trapping%Earth’s% heat% Carbon% dioxide% levels% said%to% be% “highest% in% Earth’s% history”% Natural% fluctuations% in% climate% · · Culture%of% waste% and% exploitation% Some% cultural% practices% damage% the% environment% % % · · · · · · · · · · · · Human% suffering,% respiratory% diseases,% environmental% refugees% % Lower%standard% of% living% owing% o% increasing%costs% to% pay%for% impacts% of% climate%change% New% social% consciousness% developing% ShortBsighted% or% no% meaningful% environmental% policies% Industries%that% are% closely% tied% to% government% are% favoured% Costs% taxpayers% money% to% develop% new% green% technologies,% disaster% relief,%environment% clean% ups% etc.% Certain% industries%losing% business% (e.g.% ski% resorts)% New% businesses%developing% Gap% between%rich% and% poor% growing%% Warming% of% atmosphere% More% frequent% and%erratic% weather% activity% Melting% ice% caps,% endangered% species% Polluted% air% etc…% Some% cultural%groups% losing% traditional% ways% of% life,% sources% of% food% and% medicine% (e.g.% hunting% and% fishing% in% the% Arctic)% Cultural% groups% being% forcibly% relocated% due% to% natural% disasters% Loss% of% cultural% and% natural% Overview Syria is located in the Middle East Diverse physical geography (plains, highlands, deserts) Culturally diverse population of 20.8 million Sunni Muslim majority (74%), Shia Muslim minority Been under authoritarian rule of the Assad regime since 1970 – Baa’th Party Bashir al-Assad is a member of the minority Alawite Shia sect Political dissent is met with imprisonment, torture, disappearances etc. Government corruption is rampant, horrendous human rights record, economic and political policies favour the elite minority Allies include Russia and Iran Current Conflict WHAT? Civil conflict between al-Assad supporters (Syrian Armed Forces) and the Free Syrian Army, rebel factions WHEN? March 2011, extension of the Arab Spring WHERE? Started in Deraa, now entire country embroiled WHY? Years of repressive rule, social and economic hardship Desire for democracy, pro-democracy movement in the region Controversy over how the country should be governed Factions within the anti-Assad fighters Conflict Map Mapping the conflict is extremely challenging! Group Challenge Access the Google doc that was shared with you entitled “Interdisciplinary Lenses. ” Use the lens you have been assigned to identify the causes and implications of the Syrian crisis