SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK
SOWK 6107 AND 7397: ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT:
ROLES OF SOCIAL WORKERS AND POTENTIAL FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
Spring Semester, 2003
MacNair
Office hours: Mon,Tues., Rmacnair@uga.edu
PURPOSE
First, the course will review the conceptual issues of population and the human activities which are required for survival and those which appear to generate environmental damage. Then, the course will explore the relationship between environmental damage and damage to human populations, the differential effect of environmental damage on minority populations, the various ways that minority populations and social workers can mobilize political, social, and legal action to correct these injustices, the special role gender has played in environmental justice and development, the relationship of economic activity, fuel consumption, architecture, and community design to environmental and societal relations, the positive approach to environmental development as a community strategy, the principles of sustainability, and the strengths of social workers and related constituencies (stakeholders) in activities which promote sustainable environmental development.
OBJECTIVES
1. To review the issues of population change and growth, health and social development, the positive benefits and the harmful effects of modern technologies, the role of government and activist movements, and the conceptual basis for roles of social workers.
2. To document the relationship between environmental pollution and the consequences for human health.
3. To verify the differential effects on minority populations as a matter of justice and the efforts which have been and made and not made to counter those effects.
4. To identify the functions of gender and age in the awareness of environmental effects and the ways of organizing to confront them.
5. To analyze the dynamics of the relationship between economic and technological activities to architectural, agricultural, and urban community designs and their alternatives, utilizing the principles of sustainability in a variety of venues.
6. To participate as a class group in service learning activities with a locally polluted neighborhood.
7. To design virtual responses to environmental and sustainable goals in a regional area, an international location, and a global format, addressing the varying issues in each venue.
8. Throughout the course, pursuing concepts of social work assessment and intervention as they relate to each of the issues raised.
TEXTS AND RESOURCES
Hoff, M. (Ed) (1998) Sustainable Community Development: Studies in Environmental, Economic, and Cultural Revitalization Florida: Lewis Publishers
Other key resources:
Adamson, Joni, et al (Eds) (2002) The Environmental Justice Reader: Politics, Poetics, and Pedagogy Tucson: The University of Arizona Press
Aron, Joan and Patz, Johathan (2001) Ecosystem Change and Public Health: A Global Perspective Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press
Athanasou, Tom and Baier, Paul (2002) Dead Heat: Global Justice and Global Warming New York: Seven Stories Press
Bernard, T. and Young, J. (1997) The Ecology of Hope: Communities Collaborate for Sustainability Gabriola Island, BC: New Society Publishers (narratives)
Bullard, Robert D. (1993) Confronting Environmental Racism: Voices from the Grassroots Boston: South End Press
Bullard, R., Johnson, G., and Torres, A. (2000) Sprawl City: Race, Politics, and Planning in Atlanta Washington, D.C.: Island Press
Bullard, R.D. (Ed)(1994) Unequal Protection: Environmental Justice and Communities of Color San Francisco: Sierra Club Books
Caudill, Denise (1998) Lessons from the Field: Integration of Population and Environment I and II Oklahoma City, OK: World Neighbors, Inc. (Also, VI, Family Forests: Practical Guide to Dryland Farming, and VII, Farm Planning: Practical Guide to Dryland Farming)
Fischer, F. (2000) Citizens, Experts, and the Environment: The Politics of Local Knowledge Raleigh, NC: Duke University Press
Epstein, Samuel (1998) The Politics of Cancer Revisited Fremont Center, NY: East Ridge Press
Hoff, M.D. and McNutt, J.G. (Eds) (1994). The Global Environmental Crisis: Implications for Social Welfare and Social Work Brookfield, VT: Avebury
Odum, Eugene (1998) Ecological Vignettes: Ecological Approaches to Dealing with Human Predicaments Armsteldijk, Netherlands: Harwood Publishers
World Neighbors, Inc. (1998) Lessons from the Field: Integration of Population and Environment I and II (Ecuador), Oklahoma City: World Neighbors
ASSIGNMENTS
Assignments include:
1. Review of reading materials on:
A. concepts of environmental justice, health, and sustainable development
B. the documented record of injustice and non-sustainable developments in domestic and international communities; economic activities and community design
C. political, social and legal actions which have been successful in making positive change
In each session, readings will be assigned individually for the following session.
25%
2. Exploration of the literature on assessment research, including epidemiological research, bioassays, science shops, and principles of community based, participatory research (empowerment research), which is used to document the scientific and social basis for action. A critical essay.
15%
3. Application of principles of environmental justice, sustainable development, and participatory research to a community service- learning assessment and intervention experience. End of semester reports.
25%
4. Analysis of a component of environmental damage with plans for intervention to correct the damage, in the context of a socio-cultural community, on a regional basis (10%), an international setting (10%), and globally (5%), utilizing principles of clinical intervention, education, community development and political action.
25%
5. Class participation/Critical thinking
10%
EVALUATION
A grade of 92/100 and above is an A
A grade of 84-91 is a B.
A grade of 76-83 is a C.
Below 76 is in the basement.
SCHEDULE OF SESSIONS
SESSION 1 January 13
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INTRODUCTION: Concepts of Population and Environment; Human Ecology; Social Development; Roles of Social Workers and the Potential for Social Change
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SESSION 2 January 27
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THE CONCEPTUAL BASIS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT: The balance between economic productivity and environmental damage to air, water, climate, and land; growth, energy, organization, behavior, and human predicaments; technology, community, and the natural environment of forests, rivers, oceans, and farmland
Odum, Ecological Vignettes, Chapters 1-7, pp. 1-58; also, essays 3 and 4, pp. 79-99 Hoff (text) Sustainable Community Development: Origins and Essential Elements of a New Approach, Chapter 1 Handout: Frames of Analysis/Social Development
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SESSION 3 February 3
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THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH: Global, regional, and local issues
Aron and Patz, Ecosystem Change and Public Health, Chapter 1, Information on Issues of Global Change, pp. 3-16; Chapter 6, Human Populations in the Shared Environment, pp. 165-187; Chapter 8, An Earth Science Perspective on Global Change, pp. 233-250
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SESSION 4 February 10
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THE DOCUMENTED EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENT ON HEALTH: Global, regional, and local consequences
Epstein, The Politics of Cancer Revisited, Chapters 1-3, pp. 3-49 Aron and Patz, Chapter 2, 10, and 14. Hoff and McNutt, The Global Environmental Crisis, Chapter 9 Speaker
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SESSION 5 February 17
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CASE STUDIES: Student reports
Aron and Patz Epstein (case studies selected by students)
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SESSION 6 February 24 |
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: Racism, economic efficiency, politics, water, air, and global defeat Bullard, Unequal Protection, Chapter 1, Environmental Justice for All, pp. 3-22; Chapter 3, PCBs and Warren County, pp. 43-52 Adamson, et al, (eds) The Environmental Justice Reader, Introduction, pp. 3-14, and Roundtable, pp. 15-26 Speaker
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SESSION 7 March 3
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ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE (continued):
Bullard, Unequal Protection, Chapter 4
Bullard et al, Sprawl City, Chapter 6
Athanasiou and Baier, Dead Heat, Chapters 1-3, pp. 14-75
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SESSION 8 March 10
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THE POLITICS OF PRIVILEGE AND GENDER
Bullard, Sprawl City, Chapters 1,2,4,5, and 7
Athanasou and Baier, Dead Heat, Chapter 8
Newman, P., (1994) Killing Legally with Toxic Waste: Women and the Environment in the USA, in Shiva, Close to Home
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SESSION 9 March 24
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SOCIAL WORK THEORY AND PRACTICE REVISITED
Hoff and McNutt, The Global Environmental Crisis, Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4
Lack, E. and Gamble, D. (1998) Southeastern Women’s Involvement in Sustainable Development Efforts: The Roles and Concerns Journal of Community Practice New York: Haworth Press, pp. 85-101
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SESSION 10 March 31
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ORGANIZING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: Case studies (student reports)
Bullard, Unequal Protection, Chapters 10 and 16
Adamson, et al, The Environmental Justice Reader, Chapter 4 (also, for pedagogy, Chapters 16, 18, or 19)
Epstein, The Politics of Cancer Revisited, Chapter 11, 18, andAppendices 1-4 |
SESSION 11 April 7 |
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY BASED PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH: Science Shops, the EPA, and University Based Research
Hoff, Sustainable Development, Chapter 7
Fischer, Citizens, Experts, and the Environment: The Politics of Local Knowledge, Chapters 6 and 11 |
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SESSION 12 April 14
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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: A Conceptual Framework
Hoff, Sustainable Development, Chapters 1, 5, and 6 |
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SESSION 13 April 21
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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Localities, Themes, and Strategies
Hoff, Sustainable Development, Chapters 8, 10, and 13 |
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SESSION 14 April 28
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INTERNATIONAL, RURAL, AND AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION MOVEMENTS
Bernard, The Ecology of Hope, Chapters 2 and 10
World Neighbors, Inc., Lessons from the Field: Integration of population and Environment I and II (Ecuador Case Study)
World Neighbors, Inc. Practical Guide to Dryland Farming VI: Family Forests, and VII: Farm Planning
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SESSION 15 May 1 and 5 |
FINAL REPORTS: Integration of local, regional, international, and global issues |
REFERENCE LIST
Adams, B. (1993) Sustainable Development and the Greening of Development Theory. In Schuuraman, F.J. (Ed.) Beyond the Impasse: New direction in Development Theory. London: Zed Books
Adamson, Joni, et al (Eds) (2002) The Environmental Justice Reader: Politics, Poetics, and Pedagogy Tucson: The University of Arizona Press
Adriance, J. (1995) Living with the Land in Central America. Grassroots Development, vol.19, (1), pp. 2-17
Anstry, B. (1989) Health in a High-Tech Society: Pesticide Poisoning. International Social Work vol2(2), pp.183-194
Aron, Joan and Patz, Johathan (2001) Ecosystem Change and Public Health: A Global Perspective Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press
Athanasou, Tom and Baier, Paul (2002) Dead Heat: Global Justice and Global Warming New York: Seven Stories Press
Bernard, T. and Young, J. (1997) The Ecology of Hope: Communities Collaborate for Sustainability Gabriola Island, BC: New Society Publishers (narratives)
Bullard, R. (Ed)(1993) Confronting Environmental Racism: Voices from the Grassroots Boston, BA: South End Press
Bullard, R. (2000) Dumping in Dixie: Race, Class, and Environmental Quality
Bullard, R. (2000) Sprawl City: Race, Politics, and Planning in Atlanta
Bullard, R. (1997) Just Transportation: Dismantling Race and Class Barriers to Mobility
Bullard, R. (1994) Residential Apartheid: The American Legacy
Bullard, R.D. (Ed)(1994) Unequal Protection: Environmental Justice and Communities of Color San Francisco: Sierra Club Books
Becker, S. (1997) Psychosocial Assistance after Environmental Accidents: A Policy Perspective. Environmental Health Perspectives (national Institutes of Health), vol.105(6), 1557-1563
Berger, R. and Kelly, J. (1993) Habitat Destruction Syndrome. Social Work vol.38(4) pp.441-443
Berger, R. (1995) Social Work in the Ecological Crisis. Social Work Vol.40(5), pp. 521-526
Berry, T. (1988) The Dream of the Earth San Francisco: Sierra Club Books
Brown, L. (1981) Building a Sustainable Society A Worldwatch Institute Book. New York: W.W. Norton and Company
Caudill, Denise (1998) Lessons from the Field: Integration of Population and Environment I and II Oklahoma City, OK: World Neighbors, Inc. (Also, VI, Family Forests: Practical Guide to Dryland Farming, and VII, Farm Planning: Practical Guide to Dryland Farming)
Daly, Herman, E., and Cobb, J.B., Jr. (1989) For the Common Good: Redirecting the Economy Toward Community, the Environment, and a Sustainable Future Boston: Beacon Press
Durning, A.B. (1989) Poverty and the Environment: Reversing the Downward Spiral. Worldwatch paper 92. Washington, D.C.: Worldwatch Institute
Epstein, Samuel (1998) The Politics of Cancer Revisited Fremont Center, NY: East Ridge Press
Estes, R.J. (1993) Toward Sustainable Development: From Theory to Praxis. Social Development Issues, vol.15(3), pp. 1-29
Fischer, F. (2000) Citizens, Experts, and the Environment: The Politics of Local Knowledge Raleigh, NC: Duke University Press
Gerson, D. (1993) Strategies for Grass Roots Human Development Social Development Issues, vol.15 (2), pp. 1-15
Geschwind, S., Stolwijk, J., Bracken, M., Fitzgerald, E., Stark, A., Olsen, C., and Melius, J. (1992) Risk of Congenital Malformations Associated with Proximity to Hazardous Waste Sites American Journal of Epidemiology vol.135, pp. 1197-1207
Harcourt, W. (1994) Feminist Perspectives on Sustainable Development London: Zed Books.
Hoff, M.D. and McNutt, J.G., (1994). The Global Environmental Crisis: Implications for Social Welfare and Social Work Brookfield, VT: Avebury
Hoff, M. and Pollack, R. (1993) Social Dimensions of the Environmental Crisis: Challenges for Social Work Social Work vol.38(2), pp.204-211
Hoff, M. and Lusk, M. (1995) Sustainable Social Development: A Model for Pragmatic Social Change. Social Development Issues vol.16(3), pp. 18-33
Hoff, M. and Rogge, M. (1996) Everything that rises Must Converge: Developing a Social Work Response to Environmental Justice. Journal of Progressive Human Services vol. 7(1), pp. 41-58
Hoff, M. (Ed) (1998) Sustainable Community Development: Studies in Environmental, Economic, and Cultural Revitalization Florida: Lewis Publishers
Hoff, M. Sustainable Community Development: Origins and Essential Elements of a New Approach
Scherch, J. Eco-village Development: a Report from Southern Appalachia.
Hoff, M. The Willapa Alliance: The Role of a Voluntary Organization in Fostering Regional Action for Sustainability
Hoff, M. Conclusion: Common themes and Replicable Strategies
Hoff, M. and McNutt, J. (Eds) (1994) The Global Environmental Crisis: Implications for Social Welfare and Social Work Aldershot, England: Avebury Books, Ashgate Publishers.
Rogge, M. Environmental Justice: Social Welfare and Toxic Waste, pp.53-74
Rogge, M. Field Education for Environmental Hazards: Expanding the Person-in-Environment Perspective, pp.258-276
Rogge, M. Toxic Risk, Resilience, and Justice in Chattanooga, pp. 105-122
Korten, D.C. (1990) Getting to the 21st Century: Voluntary Action and the Global Agenda West Hartford, CT.:Kumarian Press
Madsen, J. Dawson, S. and Spykerman, B. (1996) Perceived Occupational and Environmental Exposures: A Case Study of Former Uranium Millworkers. Environment and Behavior vol.28(5), pp. 571-590
McKenzie-Mohr, D.and Marien, M. (1994) Visions of Sustainability. Futures vol.26(2) pp. 115-256
Merchant, C. (1992) Radical Ecology: The Search for a Livable World New York: Routledge
Odum, Eugene (1998) Ecological Vignettes: Ecological Approaches to Dealing with Human Predicaments Armsteldijk, Netherlands: Harwood Publishers
Rocheleau, K., Schofield, K., Mbuthi, J. (1991) People, Property, Poverty and Parks: a Story of Men, Women, Water and Trees at Pwani. Ecogen Case Studies Series. Worcester, MA: Clark University
Rogge, M. and Darkwa, O. (1996) Poverty and the Environment: An International Perspective for Social Work. International Social Work vol.39(3), pp. 395–409
Rogge, M. (1993) Social Work, Disenfranchised Communities, and the Natural Environment: Field Education Opportunities. Journal of Social Work Education vol.29(1), pp.111-120
Rogge, M. (1995) Coordinating Theory, Evidence, and Practice: Toxic Waste Exposure in Communities. Journal of Community Practice vol.2(2), 55-76
Rogge, M. (1996) Social Vulnerability to Toxic Risk (from Commercial and Industrial Chemical Releases) Journal of Social Service Research vol.22(1-2)
Roughley, L. (1995) Development for People and Nature: Toward a Socio-environmental Ethic. Social Development Issues vol.17(2-3), pp. 66-80
Saegert, S, Thompson, J.P., and Warren, M. (Eds)(c2001) Social Capital and Poor Communities New York: Russell Sage Foundation
Soliman, H. (1996) Community Responses to Chronic Technological Disaster: The Case of Pigeon River. Journal of Social Service Research vol.22(1-2), pp. 89-107
Streeter, C. and Gonsalvez, J. (1994) Social Justice Issues and the Environmental Movement in America: A New Challenge for Social Workers. Journal of Applied Social Sciences vol.18(2), pp. 209-216
World Neighbors, Inc. (1998) Lessons from the Field: Integration of Population and Environment, Oklahoma City: World Neighbors
World Neighbors, Inc. (1999) Lessons from the Field: Integration of Population and Environment II: Ecuador Case Study, Oklahoma City: World Neighbors
World Neighbors, Inc. (no dates) Practical Guide to Dryland Farming VI: Family Forests and VII: Farm Planning Oklahoma City: World Neighbors