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Chapter
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Important Points
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Prologue
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Controversy: We
don’t want to admit that past people have contributed to their own fall
Five-part framework:
1. The damage people inflict on the environment
2. Climate change
3. Hostile neighbors
4. Decreased support of friendly neighbors
5. Society’s response to problems
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Chapter 1
Montana,
Bitterroot Valley
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Six problems:
1. Mining and toxic waste
2. Logging and deforestation
3. Soils
4. Water
5. Native and non-native plants and animals
*All cause economic problems
6. Polarization between various population groups (i.e., old-timers and newcomers)
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Part Two – Past Societies
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Chapter 2
Easter Island
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Causes of collapse:
1. Human impact on environment (deforestation and loss of
bird population)
2. Political, social and religious factors behind the
above two problems
Vocabulary: moai
= statues, ahu = platforms, pukao =
red head piece
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Chapter 3
Pitcairn and Henderson Islands
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Mangareva declined due to environmental problems
Pitcairn and Henderson (depended on Mangareva for trade)
unable to survive on own
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Chapter 4
Anasazi
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Causes of collapse:
1. Deforestation and water problems
2. Climate change – rainfall amount and temperature
3. Internal trade with friendly trade partners – too
interdependent
4. Society’s response
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Chapter 5
Maya
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1. Damaged environment (deforestation and erosion)
2. Climate change
3. Hostile neighbors
4. Political and cultural factors
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Chapter 6
Vikings
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Chapter 7
Norse – Greenland I
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Chapter 8
Norse – Greenland II
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Chapter 9
Paths To Success
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Part Three – Modern Societies
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Chapter 10
Rwanda
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1. High population
2. No soil management
3. Inequality in land ownership
Other: Hutu/Tutsi, economic crisis, falling coffee prices,
displacement of young men, political fighting for power
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Chapter 11
Dominican Rep. & Haiti
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Chapter 12
China
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Chapter 13
Australia
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Part Four – Practical Lessons
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Chapter 14
Why Bad Decisions?
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1. Failure to anticipate problem before it occurs
2. Failure to see a problem that is already present
3. Failure to try to solve a problem
4. Failure to actually solve a problem
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Chapter 15
Big Business
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Chapter 16
Polder
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Polders – Reclaimed land in Netherlands
Problems facing world today:
1. Destroying natural habitats
2. Humans eating too much wild foods (esp. fish)
3. Wild species becoming extinct and more becoming extinct
4. Soil being eroded by wind and water
5. Fossil fuels last only for few more decades
6. Freshwater being depleted
7.More people use more sunlight and not much will be
available for plant growth
8. Toxic chemicals being released into soil, air and water
9. Plants and animals being transplanted to new places
10. Gases damage ozone layer > global warming
11. Population growing
12. More people having more impact on environment
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Chapter 17
Angkor
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Further Readings
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Author’s suggestions for what we can do:
1. Vote
2.Use power of purchasing
3. Draw attention to company’s policies and procedures
regarding the environment
4. Talk to others
5. Invest time and money in local environment – set
example for others
6. Donate to environmental causes
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For discussion:
- On page 507 of the paperback the author wrote, “…First World citizens show no interest in eating less, in order that Third World citizens could eat more.” Did your parents tell you to clean your plate because of staring children elsewhere in the world? How can we help others have enough to eat?
- Given the four reasons explained in Chapter 14 about why groups make bad decisions, can you think of any examples in our society or personally that illustrate one of more of these reasons?
- Apply the 12 problems in chapter 16 to your local community. Which of the counter-arguments have you heard? Which has the most validity?
- Would you be willing to pay more for products from an environmentally proactive manufacture? Do you now?
- What are we/you currently doing to protect the environment? What more could we/you do?
- What (if anything) have you learned through reading this book that is making an impact on how you are living?
- Discuss your reading experience. Were you able to follow the writer? How did you proceed through the book?
