Professional Practicum & Graduate Seminar
Angie Hoi-Chu Chan (Student ID#
48760)
Date: 14th June, 2005
Summary of Goal V
One of the UD Goals: “the
University of Dubuque can be a community concerned with ethical stewardship of
God’s human and natural resources.”
In my point of view, the
significant of choosing to write the
reflection on this goal, which is not only the “UD goal”, but “all humankind
goals” as well.
From ancient and
indigenous objects to contemporary and multi-media visions, humankind is
continuously using limited natural resources on earth. Conversely,
people generally ignore the importance of human resource.
Due to the scarce
natural resources and unique mankind on earth, humankind must be responsible to
steward them, both ethically and respectfully.
Personal Reflection on
the Goal
The society has
completed evolution at an incredible speed in the 20th century. As a
result, the massive human activities exceed the nature’s bearing capability.
According to a major
international scientific report released in 2005, human demand has already wiped
out 60 percent of the world's grasslands, forests, farmlands, rivers and lakes.[1]
During the previous century, global atmospheric temperatures have risen
by about 0.7 degrees
Celsius. However, since the mid-1970s the rate of
warming has tripled.[2]
Such significant rises would result in sea level rises and increasingly extreme
weather.
A variety of other devastating consequences follow: flooding, drought,
loss of agricultural production, spread of diseases like malaria etc.
Furthermore, long-term changes to habitat may cause mass species extinction and
even the collapse of entire ecosystems.
The importance of well-functioning ecosystems in helping
reduce poverty and improve livelihoods, societies and economies is increasingly
clear to mankind. However, the knowledge needs to be integrated into the
decisions and actions of local, national and international leaders in all
sectors.
While global warming triggers more extreme weather events
that spoil the scarce natural resources, wars have always been neglected of its
enormous damage to human resources.
Political leaders play their wicked war games, but victims suffer and
experience the tremendous hardship afterwards. Like, the threat of “Weapon of
Mass Destruction” in Iraq may have been the centrepiece of the American’s
arguments to go to war. However the false intelligence evidence might be to advance such an unnecessary war
that resulted in more casualties.
Critique of the Goal
Living smart is an emblem of civilization whereas the
cornerstone of conservation the natural resources is our main duty.
Alternatively, human resource should not be overlooked as well. Hence, it is good to stress the essential of stewardship of all
resources on earth through studying one of the UD goals.
As scientists predicted that global temperatures could increase a
further 4 degrees within the next 100 years.[3]
There is no doubt that humans are to blame for the
increase in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. How can we reduce
emissions of greenhouse gases?
Thus, for the sake of our future
generations, I, as an individual and a business leader, have an instinct of
saving and protecting our environment. Some environmental friendly rules have
been applied, like use public transports instead of drive to work; utilize
electronic transmitting instead of traditional printing; and adjust the
appropriate air-conditioning temperature etc.
Manufacturers must effectively demonstrate how
environmental products that can foster a distinctly new awareness and approach
to solving the social impact of environmental issues.
Governments should actively
cooperate with each other on environmental issues. They could
nurture the seed of sustainable culture and inspire a new generation of
environmental stewards to protect our vanishing wilderness, such as by applying
strict regulations and increasing the knowledge of the value of ecosystems.
Ultimately, tackling global warming will be a collaborative
venture with all humankind. Delaying action to control global warming would
leave an even tougher battle for future generations. Since the longer we avoid
acting, the higher the costs of climate change. Hence, we ought to examine the
costs measured in hunger, misery and lost lives, not in dollars.
Meanwhile, those who scheme wars without assessing its potential
consequences on the most vulnerable of civilian populations should be severely
condemned. For the moment a country goes to war, the consent of the governed
lubricates the machinery of killing. By using the deaths of U.S. troops in Mr.
Bush’s unjustified war as justification for its continuance, it is just failure
to win the peace. Mr.
Bush's and Mr. Blair's courageous efforts to end Iraqi fascism, while ignoring
the thousands of Europeans and multinational corporations who profited from his
reign of terror. Did they act
ethically? The mere solution: self-restraint will suffice.
Nonetheless our fear is not about the horrific weapons, but is political
leaders treat humankind as the MEANS.
END
BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://www.nrdc.org/international/osuperpower.asp
http://results.searchscout.com/