E&S 1: Environment and the Consumer Society

Is there such a thing as sustainable consumption, or will life on Earth become increasingly imbalanced? Will our grandchildren accuse us of "devouring" their future? This multidisciplinary course investigates these issues, both locally and globally from the perspectives of anthropology, history, communication and politics. Topics include cultural causes of and responses to past environmental disasters; biological and cultural limits to growth; over-fishing the commons; resource and land use issues; communication in a consumer culture; and politics and government regulations. Team projects researching the environmental impacts of campus consumption will be included. (SS)