This course aims to familiarize students with major concepts and theories related …
This course aims to familiarize students with major concepts and theories related to the study of the African Diaspora primarily, though not exclusively, in the Americas (North, South, and Central). This course links, compares, and contextualizes the historical experiences of African descendants in the U.S., the Caribbean, South America, and Africa within global processes of enslavement, colonialism, and systematic oppression. The course treats the African Diaspora as 1) historical phenomenon 2) a current condition of social, economic, and political life and 3) a way of imagining the future. We will explore theories of slavery, race, and capitalism; black resistance; post-emancipation economies and current-day neoliberalism; theories of gender; environmental justice in the African Diaspora; and theories of the black digital sphere.
There are several hundred thousand Brownfield sites across the country. The large …
There are several hundred thousand Brownfield sites across the country. The large number of sites, combined with how a majority of these properties are located in urban and historically underserved communities, dictate that redevelopment of these sites stands to be a common theme in urban planning for the foreseeable future. Students form a grounded understanding of the Brownfield lifecycle: how and why they were created, their potential role in community revitalization, and the general processes governing their redevelopment. Using case studies and guest speakers from the public, private and non-profit sectors, students develop and hone skills to effectively address the problems posed by these inactive sites.
This kit is a historical overview of American representations of chemicals from …
This kit is a historical overview of American representations of chemicals from the three sisters to the Love Canal. It compares conflicting constructions about nuclear reactor safety, depleted uranium, Rachel Carson and DDT. Through analyzing diverse historic and contemporary media messages, students understand changing public knowledge, impressions and attitudes about chemicals in the environment.
The primary goal of these resources and programming, created as part of …
The primary goal of these resources and programming, created as part of a larger initiative to expand climate justice education at MIT, is to provide support to faculty members and instructors across disciplines in integrating climate justice content and related instructional approaches into their courses.
The Toolkit houses a wide range of climate-justice-adaptable teaching modules, a starter guide for teaching climate justice, resources for students, and climate justice data sets that can serve as supportive tools to enhance teaching content and approaches.
It has been proven that climate change affects us all, but not …
It has been proven that climate change affects us all, but not equally. Despite increasing investments of millions of dollars to address climate change, the year 2023 was the hottest year on average for the planet. If international governments are investing more in trying to address climate change, why does it seem like those efforts are not working?The fact is that we are not addressing the root causes of climate change: Inequalities perpetuated by a capitalist society. The following lesson plan includes a series of activities that can be done in a classroom setting or a community space in a more intergenerational manner. Depending on how the activities are facilitated (individually or as part of a larger event such as a workshop), the time could range between 30 minutes to 3 hours. The key is to promote a dialogue and let participants share their experiences and ideas, rather than just sharing information. The main goal is to exercise critical awareness and collective action.
In this edition, Nigerian attorney and environmental activist Oronto Douglas, talks about …
In this edition, Nigerian attorney and environmental activist Oronto Douglas, talks about political activism and cultural identity in the context of globalization, the international oil economy, and the domestic politics of Nigeria. (55 min)
Is Energy and GIS your passion? If so, Energy Industry Applications of …
Is Energy and GIS your passion? If so, Energy Industry Applications of GIS provides students with an in-depth exploration of the complexities of siting decisions in the electricity market. The course introduces a variety of siting challenges that confront the energy industry and its customers and neighbors but focuses on the siting of electrical transmission lines. The course also provides hands-on experience with a common decision support technology, ArcGIS, and considers how the technology may be used to facilitate public participation in siting decisions.
Energy and the environment are inextricably linked. Delivery of energy services (what …
Energy and the environment are inextricably linked. Delivery of energy services (what humans want) is the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions, and our energy resource use affects water, land, and wildlife as well. All energy resources have environmental impacts, but some, namely fossil fuels, have more impacts than others.
The negative impacts of energy resource use disproportionately affect low income communities and communities of color in the US and globally. As our population grows and energy access increases, it is important to figure out how we will deliver energy services sustainably and in a way that addresses inequities in environmental impacts.
I will make my course more engaging by replacing disposable assignments with …
I will make my course more engaging by replacing disposable assignments with embodied activities, memorable experiences, and connection with students’ everyday lives. I will provide routine through scaffolded repetition so students know what to expect and understand how concepts build on each other. I will use a low-cost textbook ($10-$15) and a low-cost journal (also $10-$15). All other materials will be available for download on the course LMS for no extra cost. Each activity below will highlight one of the three key ideas in environmental justice theory followed by a reflection exercise to ensure the students understand the nuances between them. I will also add a discussion board to the LMS so students can post examples of environmental injustices they read about in the media or learn about in their daily lives. The intent of the Discussion Board is to foster sharing and create community.
This class explores the foundations of the environmental justice movement, current and …
This class explores the foundations of the environmental justice movement, current and emerging issues, and the application of environmental justice analysis to environmental policy and planning. It examines claims made by diverse groups along with the policy and civil society responses that address perceived inequity and injustice. While focused mainly on the United States, international issues and perspectives are also considered.
Examines theories and practice of environmental justice, concerns about race, poverty, and …
Examines theories and practice of environmental justice, concerns about race, poverty, and the environment in both domestic and international contexts, exploring and critically analyzing philosophies, frameworks, and strategies underlying environmental justice movements. Examines case studies of environmental injustices, including: distribution of environmental quality and health, unequal enforcement of regulations, unequal access to resources to respond to environmental problems, and the broader political economy of decision-making around environmental issues. Explores how environmental justice movements relate to broader sustainable development goals and strategies. This class explores the foundations of the environmental justice movement, current and emerging issues, and the application of environmental justice analysis to environmental policy and planning. It examines claims made by diverse groups along with the policy and civil society responses that address perceived inequity and injustice. While focused mainly on the United States, international issues and perspectives are also considered.
This seminar introduces students to basic principles of environmental justice and presents …
This seminar introduces students to basic principles of environmental justice and presents frameworks for analyzing and addressing inequalities in the distribution of environmental benefits and burdens from the perspectives of social science, public policy, and law.
This zine is comprised of four main sections: (1) a history of …
This zine is comprised of four main sections: (1) a history of natural resource inequalities in NYC and the goals of environmental justice; (2) the importance of effective waste management with ways to reduce waste in your community; (3) a breakdown of legislative influence and how to get involved in local politics to further environmental justice; and (4) a collection of environmental groups and resources across NYC. An online version of this resource exists at ourcityplanetfuture.wordpress.com. That site also has a link to a printable version of the zine.
This course explores equity as a key value, measure, and framework for …
This course explores equity as a key value, measure, and framework for operationalizing local economic development plans and policies. It examines the implementation of local policy initiatives for equity in U.S. cities and investigates a wide range of contemporary theory and practice in the field of urban economic development, from contracting and municipal procurement to arts and culture-driven approaches.
What factors lead to a natural disaster? What causes a famine? Why …
What factors lead to a natural disaster? What causes a famine? Why do cities flood? According to a recent article in The Atlantic, Houston's flooding during the 2017 Hurricane Harvey was primarily caused by impervious pavement which prevents the absorption of water into the land. This example illustrates how nature and society are interlinked, which is the main focus of Geography 30, Penn State's introductory course to nature-society geography. In addition to examining the linkages between human development and natural hazards, this course will also explore human society's connection to food systems, climate change, urbanization and biodiversity. The course will also cover topics of ethics and decision making in order to help students evaluate the tradeoffs of these interconnections. \The Atlantic\" needs to be made into a link pointing to this: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/08/why-cities-flood/538251/"
In an emotionally charged talk, MacArthur-winning activist Majora Carter details her fight …
In an emotionally charged talk, MacArthur-winning activist Majora Carter details her fight for environmental justice in the South Bronx -- and shows how minority neighborhoods suffer most from flawed urban policy. A quiz, thought provoking question, and links for further study are provided to create a lesson around the 18-minute video. Educators may use the platform to easily "Flip" or create their own lesson for use with their students of any age or level.
Geography 430 is an active, creative learning community focused around understanding the …
Geography 430 is an active, creative learning community focused around understanding the changing relationships between people and their environments, the causes and consequences of environmental degradation, strategies for building a more sustainable world, and the methods and approaches that scholars have used to understand human-environment interactions. The primary course objectives are to help geographers, earth scientists, and other professionals to deepen their appreciation for the complexity of human-environment systems and to develop skills that allow them to interpret, analyze, and communicate effectively regarding human-environment interactions in their lives as students, professionals, and citizens.
During this course, participants will learn how to center investigations of local …
During this course, participants will learn how to center investigations of local scientific phenomena in a Next Generation Science Standards storyline. Course educators will offer instructional strategies and climate and community data to help teachers connect to the interests and identities of students and support understanding of the impacts of climate change. In collaboration with fellow teachers, participants will imagine possibilities for this kind of teaching and learning in their own classrooms through brainstorming possible phenomenon-based storylines local to their own students.
Do you know what your bank does with your money? What is …
Do you know what your bank does with your money? What is the role of a bank in producing societal well-being? This course looks into banks that operate differently, namely, “just banks" that use capital and finance as a tool to address social and ecological challenges. This course is for anyone who wants to understand the unique role banks play as intermediaries in our economy and how they can leverage that position to produce positive social, environmental, and economic change. Go to OCW’s Open Learning Library site for 11.405x: Just Money: Banking as if Society Mattered. The site is free to use, just like all OCW sites. You have the option to sign up and enroll in the course if you want to track your progress, or you can view and use all the materials without enrolling.
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