What are the time frames for decisions? Emergency, Law Enforcement procedures, planning process

  1. Identify a Health, Human or Ecological Topic for Analysis.
  1. Describe the topic and how it relates to the Course, Course Concepts and/or principles.
  1. Analyze the Decision-Making Process (Human) or the Environmental (Ecological) application that is used for your topic
  1. What is the reason for your interest or analysis?
  1. What changes or recommendations should be made?
  1. Would you try to influence your area of interest?

Why or why not? How?

Note: The 6-8 page paper must be typed (12-14 point font), with separate reference (scholarly using MLA, APA or Scientific) and title page.

Thoughts:

  • Term Paper for Health; Water or Air Quality(Indoor), Asthma, Food Safety, Nutrition , GMO’s vs Organic, Obesity, Drugs and addictions
  • Term Paper for Human Ecology; Poverty, Housing, Wastes, Sanitation, Food Security and, Human Hazards (Radiation, and Pesticides); or School Dropouts, Juvenile delinquency and Crime
  • Natural Hazards (Fire, Flood, Freezing, Earthquakes), and Disease epidemiology (Ebola, malaria etc.)
  • Science information/data/research can be used for advocacy of a special interest group, showing differences of expert s, contrasting positions and taking-sides or showing the trade-offs.

How are Impacts or hazards measured or assessed? i.e. cost-benefit analysis, risk assessment, or health/ecological thresholds/indicators.

What are the time frames for decisions? Emergency, Law Enforcement procedures, planning process

Is there an environmental health strategy; Health Education/Promotion, Design with Nature, pollution prevention, or environmental enhancement.

Are there conditions that justify lying about or withholding risk/hazard information? What is the relationship between risk/hazard communication and ethics?

In early 2000, there was an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the Toronto, Canada area. This epidemic forced hard choices on people in Canada′s largest urban area. Medical and public health communities, federal, provincial and local governments, and ordinary citizens had to make difficult decisions, often with limited information and short deadlines. The cause of this disease outbreak was not known for a long time after it was first discovered. Health care providers were on the firing line, and were the most affected by the disease. Decision makers had to balance individual freedoms against the common good, fear for personal safety against the duty to treat the sick and economic losses against the need to contain the spread of a deadly disease. At times like this it is necessary to rely both on science and value systems to guide decisions. Lessons need to be learned from this outbreak, to ensure preparedness not only against the spread of SARS, but also for dealing with potential safety, health, and environmental issues at residential and public places and at manufacturing facilities. After a lengthy search, the cause of the disease was traced to infected poultry and other animal shipment from China. It was not known, at that time, what information was provided by China (or other entities) regarding the diseased bird. Are there conditions that justify lying about or withholding risk/hazard information? What is the relationship between risk/hazard communication and ethics?

Write and ethical justification for each of these three claims. Provide and examination of ethical theories discussed in class or in the text that would justify your claims

1) Provide a comprehensive understanding on the principal symptoms of teleopathy and the function of conscience in an organization. Draw (from the text or articles on D2L) an example when organizational consciousness was needed to address a critical ethical issue related to the negative impact of teleopathic behavior. Explain

2) Present your understanding of key principles related to virtue ethics and the argument put forth by MacIntyre in the text. Do you agree or disagree with his fundamental claim regarding virtue ethics. Explain. Clarify how MacIntyre differs from Peter Drucker’s’ understanding of the ultimate end (telos) of a business. Be specific in your points of differentiation.

3) Create your working definition on the notion of the common good. What intrinsic and extrinsic value doe such an idea have as an ethical theory in modern society? Develop an argument about measles vaccination utilizing your understanding of the common good. Be specific in your claims.

4) Chapter 11 explored management practices and attitudes through the lens of Zen Buddhism. In the text the authors named four ways related to Zen practices for managers to act to benefit themselves, others, the company and the world. Identify those ways and provide your insights into the strengths and weakness of such an approach.

5) In Chapter 12 the notion of Confusion trustworthiness is developed. Provide a brief summary of this idea as presented in the text. Explain how the ethical virtue of trust, as understood in Western business practices, is similar or different than what Confucianism holds. Be specific in your explanation.

6) What evidence did we find in Chapter 14 “How Green is Judaism” that humanity holds a privileged place in the ecosphere? What are the implications for such a claim in regards to ways ones approach the environment? Overall do you feel religion supports a greater awareness and just treatment of the environment or has the teachings found in many religions contribute to environmental harm? Explain.

7) Summarize the key ethical issues addressed in RerumNovarum. Why was this document such an important statement that many claims still have relevance today? How did it impact the development of the U.S. Catholic bishop’s statement “Economic Justice for All”?

8) Write an ethical position statement on the call for a $15 minimum wage nationwide Write an ethical positon on such a claim either in favor or against. What ethical theories could support your argument? How does such a claim fit into what we have explored in class- be sure to relate your insights into those of Adam Smith, Milton Friedman, and Alasdair MacIntrye, U.S. Bishops “Economic Justice for All”

9) Can “sweatshops” ever be morally justified? If so, under what circumstances and what moral claims would allow for them? – If not what moral virtues do not allow for them to exist in a good society? How does the existence of sweatshops reflect on issues like the common good, justice and freedom?

10) Write and ethical justification for each of these three claims. Provide and examination of ethical theories discussed in class or in the text that would justify your claims

  1. The economy exists for the person, not the person for the economy.
  2. All economic life should be shaped by moral principles.
  3. Economic choices and institutions must be judged by how they protect or undermine the life and dignity of the human person, support the family and serve the common good

Describe how an electric current is generated and transported. Assess the current state of our national grid in the United States, as well as any challenges in updating this grid.

3 w .Question #1. Describe how an electric current is generated and transported. Assess the current state of our national grid in the United States, as well as any challenges in updating this grid.

Question #2. Read the article titled “Lost in Migration: Earth’s Magnetic Field Overdue a Flip” located at http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/03/us-science-earth-magneticfield-idUSBRE8920X620121003 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Be prepared to discuss. Read the article titled “Earth’s Inconstant Magnetic Field” located at http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/lookingatearth/29dec_magneticfield.html (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. 
Describe how the Earth’s magnetic field is generated, and how it has changed throughout Earth’s history. Analyze how a magnetic reversal might impact human activities on Earth.

4w.Question #1. Watch the video titled “Video Tour of the Electromagnetic Spectrum” (5 min 03 s). Be prepared to discuss.
Video Source: NASA. (2012, June 20). Video Tour of the Electromagnetic Spectrum [Video file]. Retrieved from .
From the e-Activity, compare and contrast gamma rays and radio waves in terms of energy, wavelength, frequency, applications, and safety to humans.
Question #2. Compare and contrast the processes of fusion and fission. Describe the challenges in harnessing fusion technology for domestic energy needs.

6w. Go to the Website http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Note: Along the right side of the Tox Town main page, there are six different types of locations to explore. Pick one location of most interest to you and click on the link to open the interactive reference. Choose a location and provide a review of the different type of environmental concerns and chemical contaminants. Note: Be sure to explain the source of chemical exposure, as well as any strategies to minimize or eliminate exposure.
Question #2. Go to the Website http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/index.htm (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. and click on your region of the country in the map; then, click on your state. Choose one of the Superfund sites on the list and provide a brief summary of the site. Discuss any noted community involvement in the discovery or cleanup of the site. Note: Be sure to include a discussion of remediation strategies, as well as the current stage of cleanup at the site

7w .Question #1. Watch the video titled “Meet the Volcanoes” (2 min 57 s). Be prepared to discuss.
Video Source: NOVA. (2013, January 3). Meet the Volcanoes [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/earth/meet-volcanoes.html (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Compare and contrast the eruption styles of the Mauna Loa Volcano in Hawaii and Mount Pinatubo in Philippines. Note: Be sure to include a review of the plate tectonic setting, as well as the role of magma composition and viscosity at each location on the morphology of the volcano and eruption style.
Question #2. Describe how Wegener’s continental drift hypothesis has helped to shape modern plate tectonic theory, and why his hypothesis was not widely accepted by his peers when first proposed. Analyze the types of evidence used to support plate tectonic theory.

8w.Question #1. Review the interactive titled “Science and The Fracking Boom: Missing Answers” located at http://www.npr.org/2012/04/05/150055142/science-and-the-fracking-boom-missing-answers (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Describe the benefits and drawbacks of natural gas production. Note: Be sure to include a discussion of issues related to waste products, extraction of the resource, land use, projected reserves, impacts on the environment, and cost/benefit.
Question #2. Review the informtion located at https://www.climate.gov/enso (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Describe the interactions between the atmosphere and the surface ocean water in the equatorial Pacific Ocean under “normal” conditions. During an El Niño event, describe the changes that occur in both the Walker Circulation and the underlying ocean. Note: Be sure to include the changes of atmospheric convection, warm surface ocean water, and the thermocline in your description. List a specific region that is impacted negatively by an El Niño event.