CGW4U Unit 2: The Anthropocene Documentary - PDF

CGW4U Unit 2: The Anthropocene Can you think of any problem in any area of human endeavour on any scale, from microscopic to global, whose long-term solution is in any demonstrable way aided, assisted, or advanced by further increases in population, locally, nationally or globally? Dr. Albert Bartl...

CGW4U Unit 2: The Anthropocene Can you think of any problem in any area of human endeavour on any scale, from microscopic to global, whose long-term solution is in any demonstrable way aided, assisted, or advanced by further increases in population, locally, nationally or globally? Dr. Albert Bartlett Emeritus Professor of Physics University of Colorado World Population Balance Board of Advisors There is no question that the population of the planet is growing. There is also no question that our species has and is changing the planet in a range of ways, many permanently. As early as the 1960s the term "Anthropocene" has been used to describe the current geological epoch. This time period started with the industrial revolution and is characterized by the measurable and significant impact human activity has on the natural environment. Watch the documentary Anthropocene: The Human Epoch to learn more about the Anthropocene. Before viewing, read through the questions to know what to look for as you watch. View the documentary here: https://www.tvo.org/video/documentaries/anthropocene-the-human-epoch Anthropocene: The Human Epoch Viewing Questions 1. How old is the Earth? 2. The 105 tons of ivory comes from about ___________ elephants. 3. What resource is produced at the Siberian factory? 4. Humans move more sediments than all of the _________ of the world combined. 5. What rock is mined in Carrara, Italy? 6. What is being produced in the Atacama Desert, Chile? 7. What is the cause of the recent increase in demand for lithium? 8. How much do the huge coal excavators weigh in Immerath, Germany? 9. Why were 4 towns destroyed near the Hambach coal mine? 10. Forests absorb _________ of anthropogenic (from humans) carbon emissions. 11. What percent of old-growth forest remains on Vancouver Island? 12. What percent of Earth’s forests have been cleared, fragmented, or degraded for human use? 13. How many people is the Redeemed Christian Church of God designed to hold? 14. The world’s population could reach __________________ by 2050. 15. What are the “miners” searching for in the Kenyan landfill? 16. The “technosphere”, the combination of all human-made or altered material, is estimated to be __________ tons. 17. What is being used in London as a space for growing crops? 18. Where is the huge oil refinery complex located? 19. Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are higher than any time in the last ________________ years. 20. How long is the Gudong Seawall in China? 21. What happens to the streets and shops of Venice, Italy? 22. What happens to the coral in the high-speed video? 23. What has caused this widespread bleaching? 24. The scimitar-horned oryx is ______________________________ 25. Extinction rates are up to ________________ higher than natural rates. 26. What do the artists carve in the ivory workshop? 27. What do they do to the elephant tusks to prevent them from being sold on the black market? If you’d like to explore the areas of the Anthropocene, visit this story map: https://earth.google.com/web/data=Mj8KPQo7CiExa25uLXJXdmFrM0RmR29zRHM5Z1daVW1jUVBPSVR6N1kS FgoUMDM5QTJDQTc4RDEyQjQ1QzMxMDk Anthropocene: The Human Epoch After- Viewing Questions Choose one of the prompts below to respond to as an in-depth reflection. Handwrite your response. 28. Since learning more about the Anthropocene, it’s clear that our population is out of control. Do you think that population control is a human rights violation? Why or why not? 29. Do you think that controlling population growth is an issue for a country to deal with or the world? 30. What are the possible consequences of controlling the population through country policies?