Exam 16: Sociology and the Environment

The recognition that people in subordinate positions are exposed to more and greater environmental risk factors than are experienced by people occupying dominant positions was the impetus for which of the following?

Recently, environmentalists have been identified as members of a new middle class. Why do members of this class tend to be more radical than the population as a whole?

In class, Jim was asked to give a clear and concise explanation of Jevon's paradox. Which of the following would he use?

Environmental racism is a form of discrimination against minority groups and people from poor countries who are subjected to a disproportionate share of environmental hazards and polluting industries. Utilizing examples from your text and personal experiences, discuss this phenomenon and propose ways that it can be minimized or eliminated.

According to analysts, who is most vulnerable to climate change?

What is corporate greenwashing? Why would companies be inclined to practise it?

It has been said that most Canadians will recycle, purchase "green" products, and act positively toward the environment, but only to the extent that such action does not require any real sacrifice in terms of time or money. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your answer, incorporating concepts from the chapter.

Wei, an exchange student from China, was called upon to give an example of an externality that she experienced in her homeland. Which of the following would she cite?

In the 1970s, several Greenpeace activists boarded small inflatable boats and navigated themselves between a large Russian whaling ship and the hunted whales. Despite the risk of hitting the activists, the whaling ship fired the harpoon cannon. The activists captured this event on film and it was broadcast on many television networks. This media coverage made the Save the Whales movement front-page news for the first time. According to your text, what was this environmental group doing?

In the 1970s, scientists predicted that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) could rapidly destroy the Earth's ozone layer, but it wasn't until 1987 that CFCs were banned.

According to the risk society thesis of Ulrich Beck, what were the developing welfare states of the Western world preoccupied with prior to World War II?

What environmental issue was the focus of the third wave of environmentalism?

Coal, a polluting fossil fuel, has been rebranded as "clean coal," with controlled emissions and open-pit mines reclaimed for green space. Advocates claim coal is necessary for economic growth, while being environmentally friendly. What term identifies this approach?

Modern environmental groups tend to be dominated by which group of citizens?

Define sustainable development and explain its significance.

According to your text, why do the news media often report on environmental issues and problems?