Pick an environmental issue and analyse that issue from within the Research Paper

Pick an environmental issue and analyse that issue from within the framework of at least two of the discourses of environmental - Research Paper Example ound environmental governance. Given the threats of environmental degradation and their potential risks to the survival of mankind, the need for sound governance of the environment is urgent. Cole and Foster reported that â€Å"many observers point to protests by African Americans against a toxic dump in Warren Country, North Carolina, in 1982, as the beginning of the movement.†6 By the word â€Å"movement,† Cole and Foster were referring to the Environmental Justice Movement. Most likely the report is inaccurate because peoples all of the world probably have their own respective histories of struggles for environment justice. Most important, peoples all over the world have their own respective movements for a green economy and society. For example, several authors have been claiming that indigenous peoples have visions of societies that are one with nature, societies that are environment-friendly, societies that are green. Environmental racism, of course, is a valid co ncern. Cole and Foster have an ample discussion on this point.7 For example, one of the Cole and Foster’s most important discussions on environmental racism revolved on the experience of Chester residents along Delaware River in Philadelphia. In the Cole and Foster narrative, â€Å"Chester is a small enclave of people of color within the predominantly white Delaware County.† 8 According to Cole and Foster, the â€Å"toxic assault† on the people of color of Chester began in the late 1980s in which â€Å"hundreds of truckloads of trash† were being brought to Chester every day.9 In many parts of the world today, a similar situation has been happening. Yet, the victims have been irrespective of color. The common denominator on why many people are living close or within the garbage dumps is that they are poor rather than the color of their skin. Thus, following the Cole and Foster logic and analysis, the participation of people irrespective of their economic s tatus in life in environmental governance is a crucial element towards the realization of Environmental Justice. II. Green Economy It should be emphasized that the assaults that the Cole and Foster struggles have occurred because governance has not been green in the first place. If governance has been green, the issue of environmental justice may not have existed in the first place. Thus, the title of the book Van Jones (with Ariane Conrad) had been appropriately titled, The Green Collar Economy: How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems. If an economy is green then there will be no environmental injustice in the first place. There would be no one from which to exact environmental retribution or justice

Ethnography of Soup Kitchen Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ethnography of Soup Kitchen - Essay Example The area turned out to be dissimilar in different aspects ranging from the physical appearance to the level of professionalism incorporated. In the situation such as that of the soup kitchen, there are elements of favour-seekers, lawbreakers and the corrupt. Hence, all these form the broader category of the opportunistic members of the society. The society presents a conventional culture stipulating favour to the visitors. The situation is real when the group enters the House of Bread for the research. As earlier proposed by one of the group members, the people at the restaurant are perceived as welcoming. The researchers are accorded profound priority of accessing the critical section of the kitchen and performing the serving tasks. This aspect concurs with the typical human psychology with a lurking intention of seeking generosity perception on the recipient of favour. The scenario at the cafeteria upholds the family culture, but not necessarily related to each. There is a group of persons who seem familiar to each other, yet they come from different locations. These individuals form particular types of families as a result of meeting at the House of Bread. The situation is ordinary among people since they are social beings, and their frequent meetings at this institution allow them to understand each better because they have common interests. These groups would always segregate themselves from other people who do not belong to their inner circles to embrace their preferences. Concerning the authority in the soup kitchen, the rules are notably relaxed due to the weaknesses attributed to by the enforcers. The staff members and the volunteers opted to act as the overseers of the processes in the soup kitchen, yet they manifest numerous facets of irresponsibility. They are the authority figures of the establishment and run the entire show, although the kitchen’s rules are remarkably relaxed and beneficial towards the guests. Nonetheless, there is an under standing that guests are the most fundamental group that is worth the considerations by the soup kitchen authority. The House of Bread regards the guests as their employers and act at their favour in the hotel. In the assessment, it was noticed that there is evident favouritism at the benefit of the guests. Most of the guests were served according to their wishes. For instance, at the coffee serving point, the maximum number of scoops was three, yet many guests would prefer four or five and the patrons are reluctant to restrict the actions. Imperatively, there exists another breed among the House of Bread users who have the full knowledge of the kitchen processes and the staff implying that they were regular visitors. This scenario is common in a normal society for its completion. The hidden motive of this group is to seek favour of the House of Bread formalities. Conclusion The research incorporated assumptions derived by notions concerning the House of Bread cafeteria. Eventually, there was a conflict of presumptions’ with reality. The study disapproved the thought that the institution was a food bank that only helped the unprivileged members of the society. The study led to the understanding that the institution is meant for every individuals. When the researchers reach the cafeteria, they realize that the place accommodates everyone in spite of age, religion or social class. There was also an initial assumption that volunteers will be optimistic because working in the cafeteria