Study Guide for Section 3

1.      What are the three main forms of land degradation, and the percentage of their contribution to global land degradation?  Explain.

 

2.      What is carrying capacity?  Explain.

 

3.      What is the Blue Revolution?  Why is it important in the future in developing nations?

 

4.      How does agriculture contribute to the production of greenhouse gasses?  Explain.

5.  According to the 2008 article on global meat consumption, what is the environmental impact of cattle production on greenhouse gasses? Global landmass? Rainforest destruction?

 

6.      What are the major predicted effects of global warming on agriculture?  Explain.

 

7.      Is it morally acceptable if developing nations that have not benefited from the burning of fossil fuels are most negatively affected by global warming?  Use ethical theories and principles in your argument.

 

8.      What are the positive and the negative effects of biofuels on the poor and hungry in the developing world?

 

9.      According to the 2008 News Story, what were the effects of biofuels on food security?  Explain.

 

10.  What are the ecological plusses and minuses of biofuels?  Explain.

 

11.  What is an ecological footprint, and why is the footprint for New York City so large?

 

12.  Is it morally acceptable that 25% of the world’s population controls 75% of its resources?   Use ethical theories and principles to defend your argument.

 

13.  How big is your ecological footprint?  How many earths would be needed if everyone had your footprint?  What were your worst and best categories compared to the national average?

14.  In the video, what do you think are the moral implications to the environment of the surge of population growth in the last century?  Use ethical theories and principles in your argument.

 

15.  Define and compare intrinsic value and instrumental value.

 

16.  What is anthropocentrism and why is it such a powerful theory for benefiting the environment?

 

17.  How are small farmers more efficient than large farmers?  What advantages do large farmers have over small farmers?

 

18.  How could the Green Revolution have resulted in both an increase and a decrease in food security and standard of living for millions of people?  Explain.

 
 

19.  What is the evergreen revolution?  Explain.

 
 

20.  What are Vandana Shiva’s main arguments criticizing the green revolution?  Explain.  What moral theories or principles are involved in her arguments?

 
 

21.  What are the three main goals of sustainable agriculture?  Explain.

 
 

22.  What is agroecology?  Explain and give an example.

 
 

23.  What is Norman Borlaug’s argument about how modern agriculture and the Green Revolution have been beneficial to the environment?  Explain.

 
 

24.  In the movie “America the Bountiful”, why did Borlaug’s wheat genetics improvements in Mexico result in green revolution crops that grew in India and Pakistan?  Explain.

25.  According to the movie “America the Bountiful”, what geopolitical conflict spurred the U.S. to do something to improve agriculture in the developing world?  Explain.  What are the ethical implications?
 

26.  In the video, why has the green revolution in India been reversed?  Explain.

 
 

27.  In the video, what needs to be done to have a green revolution in Africa?  Explain.

 

 

28.  What are the major arguments against genetically engineered food?  Do you agree?  Why or why not?  Will genetically engineered food feed the world?

 

29.  What are Paul Thompson’s main arguments in favor of genetically engineered food?  Do you agree?  Why or why not?

 

30.  According to “Advances in Plant Biotechnology” What are the main categories of transgenic agronomic improvements in developing countries?  Who is developing them?