Unit III Case Study

Select one of the products described in the eco-audit case study in Chapter 8 of your textbook (e.g., cups, grocery bags, electric kettle). Using the data in the textbook from the eco-audit, additional data from Chapter 15 (as necessary), and any additional resources that you find helpful, prepare a pollution prevention audit for the product that you have selected. Base your P2 audit on the steps shown in the Unit III Lesson.

You do not need to use all of the P2 audit steps shown in the Unit III Lesson, but use at least three major steps from each phase (a major step being Step 5 rather than Step 5.1). Since you will not be using all of the steps shown in the Unit Lesson, you may re-number them if you wish so that your audit proceeds sequentially without skipping numbers. Your audit should include an introductory paragraph explaining both the purpose of a P2 audit and the reasons for including the steps that you have selected.

Your case study must be at least two full pages in length. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations. All references and citations used must be in APA style. The introduction should be formatted in paragraph form, and the steps can be formatted as a list.

One  of the pivotal turning points that led to a change in public consensus  on Climate Change was the airing of the movie “An Inconvenient Truth” in  2006.  It provides straightforward explanations for global warming and  the science behind Climate Change.  It also addresses several commonly  held Climate Denier Myths.   If you have seen this movie before, it is still important to watch  because you can focus more in depth on the science concepts that are  discussed.

PART I:  Assignment (16 pts)

Watch the movie at the above link. Make sure to read the questions below before watching the movie. Use separate paragraphs for each question and keep your responses organized.

1.  Climate Change Science Concepts (5 pts)

The  movie has many important Climate Change science concepts throughout.  List 10 scientific concepts from the movie and provide 1-2 sentences  describing each one. Don’t worry too much about understanding each one,  the goal is to get familiar with the different concepts and start  understanding the overall picture of Climate Change. You will soon be  learning more details about each of these science concepts in class.

2.  Three of the Most Common Climate Denier Myths (2 pts each)

Explain how Al Gore’s refutes each of the common climate denier myths below.

a)  Myth #1: “Scientists don’t agree”.   In your response, provide a comparison between science articles and  news articles. Watch this short and humorous video to help you respond  to this myth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjuGCJJUGsg.

b) Myth #2: “Doing something would ruin our economy”.   Provide a discussion of the automobile industry example.  Use  historical examples and include a discussion of what can happen if we  don’t make the changes.

c) Myth #3: “Despair is our only possible reaction”.   Discuss what we can do instead of feeling only despair.  List at least  three social or scientific advancements discussed in the movie where  humans have been able to overcome societal norms to create extraordinary  advancements previously thought to be impossible. Keep these things in  mind throughout the class, to let you know that yes, Climate Change can  be solved!

3.  Review of “An Inconvenient Truth” (5 pts)    

How  much did you know about Climate Change before watching the movie? What  were some of the more important things you learned from the movie? What  are you confused most about Climate Change or would like to learn the  most about after watching the movie? (minimum 100 – 200 words)

NO plagiarism please, TurnItIn is used!

Goal

Essay #1 should demonstrate your ability to identify a sustainability problem based on the concepts learned in this course. This essay allows you to build your expertise as a future sustainability professional – here, you demonstrate that you know how to differentiate between sustainability problems and other problems.

You need to select a sustainability problem from anywhere around the world. I strongly encourage you to select a case that is relevant to you (you should be highly motivated to work on the problem), as well as important in practical terms; that means, try to link your problem to an ongoing initiative, program, or project! Remember that you will develop a problem-solving strategy over the course of the semester (and present it in Essay #3). In selecting a case that is related to ongoing activities, you can actively contribute to the mitigation or solution of the problem!

Content and Structure

For this essay, you should select a sustainability problem from anywhere around the world, provide basic information about the problem, and elaborate on why it is asustainability problem. Your problem should be focused on a specific location. Ideally, you have already chosen your topic and location in Discussion Post #1. If, for some reason you would like to change, you must get approval from me, your instructor, prior to writing Essay #1.

Your essay should apply the concepts we have covered in this course. Pay close attention to the following criteria as the essay should be structured according to thefollowing four parts each with their own header:

The first part (introduction) is only 1-2 paragraphs: briefly describe the manifestation of the problem and the context of the problem you selected (extent, location,history, etc.). This should include any relevant background information.

The second part of the essay should explain the sustainability features of the problem (why this is a sustainability problem) each with their own header:

1. Is the problem significantly harmful over the long term – does it threaten collective goods (ecosystems, human wellbeing, livelihoods, justice) that areessential for the long-term viability, vitality, and integrity of the society in question? A problem is significantly harmful when it threatens the majority of the following goods, and all of these should be explicitly discussed:

(1) Viability or Integrity of Ecosystems.

(2) Human and Social Wellbeing.

(3) Equitable Opportunity for Livelihood and Economic Activities.

(4) Justice across Societies (Inter-regional Justice).

(5) Justice from one Generation to the Next (Inter-generational Justice).

1. Is the problem urgent? Does it display features of irreversibility in the short-term?
2. Are there dispersed effects? Do the adverse effects of the problem spread across different sectors and across different spatial levels (from local to global)?
3. Are there complex causes? Are the underlying causes of the problem manifold and characterized by long and indirect cause-effect chains?
4. Is the problem contested? Is the problem controversially discussed and even willfully obscured?

The third part of the essay should explain the need for sustainability problem solving by discussing the legitimate stakeholders of the problem:

1. Does a group of legitimate stakeholders recognize and judge this situation as negative or adverse, in terms of sustainability, on justifiable grounds? Who are these stakeholder?
2. Is a group of legitimate stakeholders honestly interested in doing something to resolve and mitigate this situation? Who are these stakeholders?

At the end of the essay, the fourth part should describe in one short paragraph who can benefit from your essay series (who will be interested in the results of youranalysis and solution study). It is not sufficient to use general categories such as “the public.” Instead, you need to identify a specific group, organization, association,agency, company, or the like that might be interested in your work!

Important Note: This essay should NOT describe necessary transitions or solutions. It should SOLELY focus on the problem at hand.

The essay must not exceed 5 pages (plus references)!

Formal Aspects

The essay must be written from a professional perspective for a general audience. You are expected to use credible sources to substantiate your ideas (Note: Wikipedia isnot an acceptable source for this purpose), and to fully reference those sources both in the text and reference section of the paper. Each essay should be typed, spell-checked, and no more than five pages long – single-spaced, size 12 font. Please refer to the Publication Manual of the American PsychologicalAssociation (APA Manual) as your style guide.

The Turkey Point nuclear power station was built in 1972 by Florida Power & Light Corporation on the shore of Biscayne Bay about 25 miles south of Downtown Miami. It is the largest electrical power generating station in Florida and the sixth largest in the United States. FPL has applied to the State of Florida’s Public Service Commission and to the Federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission to build two additional reactors on this site.

After reading your textbook’s section on how electricity is generated by nuclear fission, read the following articles for backgrounding prior to participating in this Forum.

• Eye on Miami: Time to Replace the Failed Cooling Canal System at Turkey Point Nuclear Plant with Conventional Cooling Towers Now
• FPL Wins Fight to Store Radioactive Waste Under Miami’s Drinking Water
• FPL’s page: Turkey Point 6 & 7 – the proposed, new reactors for the site
• FPL’s page: Turkey Point Facts
• FPL Postpones Nuclear Plant Expansion For Now.
• Turkey Point Nuclear Plant On Way To Expansion. But Will It Survive A Changing Industry

A. As someone who lives and votes in South Florida (if you don’t live in South Florida, imagine that you live and work in downtown Miami – 25 miles away from Turkey Point as the Turkey Vulture glides), you will create a list of six (6) questions in rank order of importance to you about FPL’s nuclear power operations.

For each question, briefly (at least two complete sentences) explain why it is important that you get an answer to this question – now!
Use the following format to earn up to 12 points (2 points/question + reason)

Classify each pollutant based on the category that best describes its impact on waterways. Categories: Toxic chemicals Pathogens and waterborne diseases Thermal pollution Nutrient pollution Sediment Pollutants: Acid drainage from an abandoned coal mine Herbicide from a soccer field Medical waste from a hospital dumped in an illegal location Frigid water from the bottom of a reservoir Phosphorus-rich fertilizer from an agricultural land Nitrogen-rich grass clippings from a mowed lawn Clay soil from land cleared for home construction Eroded topsoil from agricultural land