RE: Copenhagen result

[HARRIS, Paul Gordon]

I have to agree with Lorraine, too. At some point we have to admit that the 
latest 'first step' toward solving this problem is far too little far too late, 
and then look for alternatives. Many people on this list have written about 
them (and I think a combination is the only answer), but perhaps most 
fundamentally we have to admit that the biggest problem may be 'international 
environmental politics' (international meaning 'interstate'). That's why I have 
turned my attention to alternatives (which have also been addressed by Lorraine 
and some others on the list) that attempt to look beyond states to solve this 
problem. (See my book, for which I have written a short learning guide to help 
our students consider the real problems and a package of credible alternatives: 
http://www.euppublishing.com/book/0-7486-3910-1)

All best,

Paul

--
P.G. Harris
Department of Social Sciences
Hong Kong Institute of Education
10 Lo Ping Road
Tai Po, HONG KONG
General Office Tel.: +852 2948 7707
Direct Tel.: +852 2948 6763
Fax: +852 2948 8047
Email: pharris @ ied.edu.hk
http://www.ied.edu.hk/ssc/



-Original Message-
From: owner-gep...@listserve1.allegheny.edu on behalf of Stephen Van Holde
Sent: Tue 12/22/2009 1:16 AM
To: Lorraine Elliott
Cc: gep-ed@listserve1.allegheny.edu
Subject: Re: Copenhagen result
 
Well put, Lorraine.  I have exactly the same problem standing in front  
of my classes.  And I cannot imagine how reps from places like Tuvalu  
and Bangladesh must feel at this point. What do they say to poor  
people whose lives and livelihoods are threatened? Like Dale says,  
what happened (and didn't) at Copenhagen is sadly indicative of how  
broke the whole system is. My students more and more say that, at  
least in the developed world, the solutions lie in sectoral reform  
rather than in state-based solutions.  And while I've been reluctant  
to agree, the magnitude of the failure at Kyoto has me thinking they  
may be right.  But of course that does little or nothing to address  
the damage we are beginning to visit on the developing world

Just my 2 cents.

Steve

Stephen Van Holde
Departments of Political Science and International Studies
Kenyon College, Gambier, OH 43022 USA
vanho...@kenyon.edu

Quoting Lorraine Elliott :

> But when one puts this in the context of time ...? It's over two  
> decades since the Toronto conference at which participating  
> governments committed, voluntarily it is true, to  reduce emissions  
> by 20% by 2005; it's 17 years since the FCCC was adopted, over a  
> decade since the Kyoto Protocol was adopted; we've had four IPCC  
> assessment reports ... and so many other reports that we've probably  
> killed numerous forests in publishing them all. What do we say to  
> the 'next generation', those who have grown to be 20 years old in  
> the time that all this hot air has been expended - that Copenhagen  
> is a good first step? Somehow I don't think my students will be  
> persuaded. I have no doubt that there were hundreds of people at  
> Copenhagen, on official delegations and elsewhere, who worked  
> non-stop to try to retrieve something. I know a lot of those people.  
> But I've just been in Southeast Asia where the livelihoods (and in  
> some cases lives) of millions of people are under threat a result of  
> the impacts of climate change. I have students from Bangladesh and  
> the Pacific. Despite the rhetoric and spin coming from world  
> 'leaders', they want someone to stand in front of them and tell them  
> why their homes, their livelihoods are under threat and no-one is  
> doing much about it. I no longer have an answer for them. Sorry, bit  
> of a rant, but I feel pretty dispirited by the whole process at the  
> moment.
>
> Lorraine
>
>  Original Message -
> From: Daniel Bodansky 
> Date: Monday, December 21, 2009 8:48 pm
> Subject: Re: Copenhagen result
> To: Heike Schroeder 
> Cc: Daniel Bodansky ,  
> "gep-ed@listserve1.allegheny.edu" 
>
>> But countries did move beyond position in significant ways.
>> China agreed to international listing and review of pledge. US
>> agreed to $100 billion annual funding and short term finance,
>> plus personal commitment by Obama to minus 17%. Agreement was
>> far from easy - people sweated blood to get it!
>>
>> __
>> Daniel Bodansky
>> Associate Dean for Faculty Development
>> Woodruff Professor of International Law
>> School of Law
>> University of Georgia
>> Athens, GA 30602
>> Tel: 706-542-7052
>>
>> On Dec 21, 2009, at 10:32 AM, Heike Schroeder
>>  wrote:
>>
>> >Hi All,
>> >Thought I'd put my 2 cents in as well...
>> >On Wil's 1st point: I agree that anything but a political
>> framework was off the table well before 43,000 registered COP15
>> attendees (and some 100,000 protesters) gathered in Copenhagen.
>> But given that 120 or so heads of state were coming to town
>> (including Obama himself) gave people like Ivo de Boer hope to
>> publicly state (as he did at For

Research Fellow - China, Climate Change and International Justice

[HARRIS, Paul Gordon]

Please share widely with relevant email lists, job banks and interested 
graduates (apologies for cross postings)...


China, Climate Change and International Justice
Senior Research Assistant/Research Fellow/Post-doctoral Research Fellow 
Department of Social Sciences (Ref: SRA_RF_PDF/SSC/1209)
 
A qualified and highly dedicated person is sought for a research project on 
China, climate change and international justice.  The objectives of the project 
include, inter alia, (1) to situate China’s conceptions of global warming and 
climate justice in the context of the practical future impacts of climate 
change, especially for poor people in the developing world; (2) to measure and 
understand the numbers and behaviors of affluent people in China and how these 
compare with developed countries, and to determine how the distribution of 
wealth and the reality of growing affluent classes in China comport with the 
Chinese government’s international position on climate change; (3) to compare 
ethical arguments for international (inter-state) justice with alternative 
arguments based on cosmopolitan (individual and borderless) ethics in this 
context; and (4) to develop and recommend domestic and international climate 
change-related policies for China and its special territories (e.g. Hong Kong) 
that are consistent with development rights and historical responsibility.

Interested applicants with knowledge of climate change politics, international 
environmental affairs and/or environmental policy, particularly related to 
China, are especially welcome.  He/She should possess at least a master’s 
degree but preferably a doctoral degree qualification in a related area 
(international relations, political science, environmental policy, political 
philosophy, sustainable development or similar field). Recent PhD graduates are 
especially welcome.  An outstanding command of English, including an ability to 
research and write in English to strict deadlines, is essential.  A track 
record of publication or contribution to publications in English would be a 
distinct advantage.  Experience working on similar research projects is 
preferred.  Ability to read Chinese and speak Mandarin would be a very strong 
asset, but applicants without this ability will also be considered.

The appointment will last from 1 March 2010 to 31 August 2011.  Willingness to 
serve for the duration of the project is essential. 

For initial inquires, please contact Professor Paul Harris, Head of Social 
Sciences and Chair Professor of Global and Environmental Studies, by email: 
phar...@ied.edu.hk


Salary will be commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the 
appointee.  Leave and outpatient medical benefits provided as appropriate. 

Application forms can be obtained from (a) 
http://www.ied.edu.hk/hro/applyfor.htm; (b) the Human Resources Office, 3/F, 
Administration Building, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, 10 Lo Ping Road, 
Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong; or (c) Town Centre, Level 2, The Long 
Beach, 8 Hoi Fai Road, Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong.  The completed 
application form, together with full curriculum vitae, should be sent to the 
Human Resources Office by email to h...@ied.edu.hk or by fax to (852) 2948 6005 
or by post, preferably before 9 January 2010. Applications will continue to be 
considered until the position is filled.  Please quote the reference number of 
the position in the application and mark “Strictly Confidential – Job 
Application” on the envelope. 
All applications will be treated in strict confidence.  Only those who are 
shortlisted will be contacted. 
Further information about the Institute is available at http://www.ied.edu.hk 

New book: World Ethics and Climate Change

[HARRIS, Paul Gordon]

New book on climate change from Edinburgh University Press, just in time for 
the Copenhagen conference and next semester's courses:
 
Title: World Ethics and Climate Change: From International to Global Justice
Author: Paul G. Harris
Publication Date: Nov 2009
Dimensions: 234 x 156 mm
Length: 224 pages 
Series: Edinburgh Studies in World Ethics
http://www.eupjournals.com/book/978-0-7486-3910-6

Summary: More than two decades of international negotiations have failed to 
stem emissions of greenhouse gases that are causing global warming and climate 
change. This book identifies a way to escape this ongoing tragedy of the 
atmospheric commons. It takes a fresh approach to the ethics and practice of 
international environmental justice and proposes fundamental adjustments to the 
climate change regime, in the process drawing support from cosmopolitan ethics 
and global conceptions of justice. The author argues for 'cosmopolitan 
diplomacy', which sees people, rather than states alone, as the causes of 
climate change and the bearers of related rights, duties and obligations. 

Key Features: 
--Describes the role of ethics and justice in world affairs and demonstrates 
that climate change is a matter of extreme injustice. 
--Summarizes and critiques the flawed doctrine of international (interstate) 
justice upon which governments have premised climate change agreements and 
policies. 
--Examines the practical and ethical significance for climate change of growing 
numbers of new consumers in the developing world. 
--Proposes a cosmopolitan approach to climate change that is more principled, 
more practical and more politically viable than current international policies. 
--For lecturers and students, a companion World Ethics and Climate Change 
learning guide is freely downloadable from www.euppublishing.com 
--All of the author's royalties are directly paid to OXFAM in support of the 
world's poor, who are most harmed by - and least responsible for - climate 
change.  

Contents: Preface; Introduction; Part I: The Challenge; 1. Global Climate 
Change; 2. Justice in a Changing World; Part II: International Justice; 3. 
International Environmental Justice; 4. International Justice and Climate 
Change; Part III: Global Justice; 5. Cosmopolitan Ethics and Justice; 6. 
Affluence, Consumption and Atmospheric Pollution; 7. Cosmopolitan Diplomacy and 
Climate Policy; 8. The Unavoidability of Global Justice; References; Index. 
 
Early Review: "Paul Harris argues that affluent people everywhere are, by their 
contributions to climate change, violating the rights of the poor. He makes a 
powerful case for focusing on individual rights and responsibilities in the 
framework of a new world ethic. I hope this book will be widely read, and acted 
upon." Peter Singer, Professor of Bioethics, Princeton University

Orders (UK): http://www.eupjournals.com/book/978-0-7486-3910-6
Orders (USA): 
http://cup.columbia.edu/book/978-0-7486-3911-3/world-ethics-and-climate-change

Inspection Copies: Inspection copies are made available to teaching staff and 
are sent at the discretion of Edinburgh University Press. Only paperback 
editions of our course books are available for inspection. A maximum of 3 books 
are available per year. North American customers: please contact the relevant 
co-publisher or distributor for your area. Details can be found on the Book 
Home page: http://www.eupjournals.com/book/978-0-7486-3910-6

Rethinking global climate governance

[HARRIS, Paul Gordon]

Dear GEP Colleagues,

I am trying to rethink global environmental governance, and to encourage my 
students to do likewise, especially in the context of climate change. While I 
know that some of you won't agree, it's my feeling the practice of global 
environmental governance surrounding climate change has been a failure. This is 
not to discount positive developments and steps forward, but is (by my 
estimation) a fact revealed by warnings of natural scientists and apparently by 
ongoing environmental changes. Thanks to hard work by many governments and 
nongovernmental actors, etc., things won't be as bad as they might have been. 
But I think they'll be very bad nevertheless, especially for the world's poor.

Assuming I am correct (even if you don't agree), do you have ideas for how we 
might rethink global governance and climate change, or conceive of global 
governance in this context in very new ways? What are you saying to your 
students in this regard? What do you say when they ask for alternatives to the 
incrementalism of climate change diplomacy? Are their practical alternatives, 
or desirable ones that may appear to be impractical today?

Many thanks for your ideas.

All best,

Paul
--
P.G. Harris
Department of Social Sciences
Hong Kong Institute of Education
10 Lo Ping Road
Tai Po, HONG KONG
General Office Tel.: +852 2948 7707
Direct Tel.: +852 2948 6763
Fax: +852 2948 8047
Email: pharris @ ied.edu.hk
http://www.ied.edu.hk/ssc/en/index.htm

Job announcement: Sustainable Development and Environmental Policy

[HARRIS, Paul Gordon]

Please share this opportunity for a new environmental policy scholar to work in 
Hong Kong. Overseas candidates should apply right away (to allow time for visa 
clearance, etc., should one of them be selected).


Research Analyst / Research Fellow / Post-doctoral Research Fellow – 
Sustainable Development and Environmental Policy, Department of Social Sciences 
(Ref: RAn_RF_PDF/SSC/0909)   

A qualified and highly dedicated person is sought for a project on 
environmentally sustainable development education. The objective of the project 
is (1) to create teaching materials geared toward ensuring that Hong Kong’s 
university graduates have a strong understanding of sustainable development and 
environmental challenges, especially those facing Hong Kong; (2) to produce a 
set of teaching and learning resources (web-based and printable) for 
sustainable development-related courses in Hong Kong’s universities; and (3) to 
ensure that a high-quality resource for learning about sustainable development 
is available to the general public. In addition to conducting research and 
writing for the project, the appointee will perform the role of project 
manager.   

Interested candidates with knowledge of environmental policy and sustainable 
development, particularly in Hong Kong, are especially welcome. Candidates 
should possess at least a master’s degree but preferably a doctoral degree 
qualification in a related area (political science, public policy, sustainable 
development, environmental policy or similar field). Recent PhD graduates are 
especially welcome. An outstanding command of English, including ability to 
research and write in English to strict deadlines, is essential.  A track 
record of publication or contribution to publications in English would be a 
distinct advantage.  Experience working on similar research projects is 
preferred.  Ability to read Chinese and speak Cantonese would be an asset but 
is not required. 

The appointment will last from 1 November, or as soon as possible thereafter, 
until January 2011. Willingness to serve for the duration of the project is 
essential.

For initial inquires, please contact Professor Paul Harris, Chair Professor of 
Global and Environmental Studies, email: pharris @ ied.edu.hk or telephone: 
(852) 2948 6763. 

Salary will be commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the 
appointee with leave and outpatient medical benefits provided as appropriate.   
 

Application forms can be obtained from (a) 
http://www.ied.edu.hk/hro/applyfor.htm  
; (b) the Human Resources Office, 3/F, Administration Building, The Hong Kong 
Institute of Education, 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong; or 
(c) Town Centre, Level 2, The Long Beach, 8 Hoi Fai Road, Tai Kok Tsui, 
Kowloon, Hong Kong. The completed application form, together with full 
curriculum vitae, should be sent to the Human Resources Office by email to 
h...@ied.edu.hk or by fax to (852) 2948 6005 or by post, preferably before 5 
October 2009. Applications will be considered until the position is filled. 
Please quote the reference number of the position in the application and mark 
“Strictly Confidential – Job Application” on the envelope.  All applications 
will be treated in strict confidence. Only those who are shortlisted will be 
contacted.  Further information about the Institute is available at 
http://www.ied.edu.hk  The HKIEd is an Equal Opportunities Employer

RE: consumption rates & comparisons

[HARRIS, Paul Gordon]

But this seems to equate people with states. The statement seems to be saying 
that high-income countries are consuming 20%, etc. People here are proxies for 
states. Consequently, I would not rely on these statistics. After all, there 
are now more 'high-income' people in China than in, say, Germany, and certainly 
the UK (and possibly the US)...


-Original Message-
From: owner-gep...@listserve1.allegheny.edu on behalf of Olivia Bina
Sent: Wed 9/23/2009 1:09 PM
To: Pam Chasek
Cc: Peter Jacques; gep-ed@listserve1.allegheny.edu
Subject: Re: consumption rates & comparisons
 
Dear all,

since I too needed the exact reference, I went off to look for it.  
Thanks Pam!

UNDP (1998) Human Development Report 1998 Consumption for Human  
Development - Overview, Summary version, the United Nations  
Development Programme, New York, http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr1998/ 
  (accessed: 22/9/09).

'Inequalities in consumption are stark. Globally, the 20% of the  
world's people in the highest-income countries account for 86% of  
total private consumption on expenditures - the poorest 20% a  
miniscule 1.3%'
page 2

and graph, p.3

best

Olivia


***
Olivia Bina
Assistant Professor, Energy, Sustainable Development, SEA
International Deputy Director, Centre for Strategic Environmental  
Assessment for China
Department of Geography and Resource Management
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong S.A.R.

Tel work: (00852) 2609 6647
Email: o.c.bina...@cantab.net
Skype: oliviabina
***

On 23 Sep 2009, at 04:31, Pam Chasek wrote:

> I believe the source was
> UNDP, Human Development Report 1998 (New York: Oxford University  
> Press, 1998).
>
>
> Pam
> Pamela Chasek, PhD
> Executive Editor, Earth Negotiations Bulletin
> IISD Reporting Services
>
> 300 East 56th Street #11A
> New York, NY 10022 USA
> +1-212-888-2737
> E-mail: p...@iisd.org
> International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
> www.iisd.org
> IISD Reporting Services - Earth Negotiations Bulletin
> www.iisd.ca
> Subscribe for free to our publications
> http://www.iisd.ca/email/subscribe.htm
>
>
>
> From: owner-gep...@listserve1.allegheny.edu 
> [mailto:owner-gep...@listserve1.allegheny.edu 
> ] On Behalf Of Peter Jacques
> Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 3:57 PM
> To: gep-ed@listserve1.allegheny.edu
> Subject: Re: consumption rates & comparisons
>
> Hi all
> related to Stacy's request, can someone tell me the original source  
> of the "20% of population consuming 80% of the worlds resources"  
> dynamic? I think it was a world bank pub somewhere but I can not  
> find it.
>
> Peter
>
> Peter J. Jacques, Ph.D.
> Department of Political Science
> University of Central Florida
> P.O. Box 161356
> 4000 Central Florida Blvd.
> Orlando, FL 32816-1356
>
> Phone: (407) 823-2608
> Fax: (407) 823-0051
> http://ucf.academia.edu/PeterJacques
>
> >>> "VanDeveer, Stacy"  9/22/2009 11:42 AM  
> >>>
> Colleagues,
>
> I am wondering if some of you can point me toward any comparisons of  
> Northern & Southern consumption of various resources (agricultural,  
> mineral, whatever.) - current consumption, rates over time, etc.
>
> Ideas, citations and naked self-promotion are all most welcome.
>
> --Stacy
>
>
>
>
>
> Stacy D. VanDeveer
> Associate Professor
> University of New Hampshire
> Dept. of Political Science
> Horton SSC
> Durham, NH 03824 USA
> stacy.vandev...@unh.edu
> tel:
> fax:
> mobile:
> Skype ID:
> (+1) 603-862-0167 
> (+1) 603-862-0178
> (+1) 781-321-5880 
> stacy.vandeveer
>
> Want to always have my latest info?
> Want a signature like this?
>

Jack Appleton, Values and Attitudes in Sustainable Development Research

[HARRIS, Paul Gordon]

Dear GEP-EDers,

Apologies for this interruption. I hope you can help me find a scholar.

I am trying to track down Jack Appleton, who was working in Malaysia and 
editing a book on Values and Attitudes in Sustainable Development Research. 
Alas, all of my best efforts to find him have failed. Can anyone on the list 
help?

His email address was once jack.appl...@msa.hinet.net, but this seems to have 
stopped working.

Many thanks,

Paul

Re: plagiarism

[HARRIS Paul Gordon]

In some of my courses in recent years, I have simply stopped having
students  do research papers because ALL of them (or nearly all) have some
kind of plagiarism. Doing research is important, but if done that way, the
value is lost. Instead of research papers, I have assigned more very short
papers, written summaries and assessments of readings, etc, and raised the
value of in-class participation way up (routinely 50% in upper-level
courses; participation being defined as adding value to class discussions
and showing evidence of doing reading and thinking about it; I don't give
credit for just showing up).

Other ways around the problem are to have students write up their research
findings in an exam format (just sit in class and write what they have
learned from the research), and so forth. All of these are surrendering,
to be sure, but realistically I don't think we are capable of catching, or
having time to catch, such widespread plagiarism.

What's most annoying is how shameless students can be. This drives me
nuts. One of my recent senior thesis students plagiarism nearly all of his
thesis (despite numerous warnings I give to all students).  I gave him an
F, of course. But, despite the thesis being worth two courses, he still
graduated on time. He had taken two extra courses and met other
requirements. He steered clear of me at graduation and showed no remorse.
He beat the system even though he got caught. But I assume others
graduated without getting caught.

Just my two cents worth...

Paul

On Thu, January 8, 2009 02:50, DG Webster wrote:
> I'll second David's warning re: undergrads cutting & pasting. it's
> definately something to look out for & warn your students against.
>
> It seems to me that cheating is going to be rampant whenever education is
> seen as a means to an end, rather than an end in itself. A lot of my
> students--particularly in GE classes--are just "jumping through the hoops"
> of academia to get the degree to get the job. As such, they don't see how
> cheating hurts them. I try to point out the general benefits of the
> exercises that we assign so they can see how they are building skills that
> will make them more competitive in whatever field they choose. I'm not
> sure
> how much this helps, but I've at least seen the light dawning on a few
> faces.
>
> livwell,
> dgwebster
>
> On Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 9:26 AM, David L. Levy  wrote:
>
>> It's rampant among undergrads - we piloted Turnitin and discovered that
>> it's the norm for students to weave chunks of text from the web into
>> papers. They consider this research. Often try to cover themselves by
>> citing a bunch of sources at the end. The question is what percentage is
>> word for word, and Turnitin tells you - generally from 15-30% is low,
>> 30-50 is moderate, and over 50% is more blatant plagiarism
>>
>> Even setting specific paper topics does not help too much, the students
>> know how to dig out online working papers, reports, discussions...
>> And after all, plenty of students are happy to settle for the B- or C
>> grades that come from not following the guidelines too closely...
>>
>> Grad level we found less plagiarism, but still plenty of it. If you are
>> not catching a few every semester, you are not looking...
>>
>> I used to just use google for suspicious phrases, on a paper with
>> generally poor English - it really stands out for foreign students. But
>> Turnitin revealed that the bigger undetected problem was with English
>> speakers who are better at covering their tracks. Also, google is less
>> use with the various cheat sites behind login firewalls.
>>
>> Many of the sites allow you to trade papers - you get access by posting
>> a paper. Amusingly, I was rejected after submitting an academic paper of
>> my own! They said it could not have been a student paper...so there is
>> quality control!
>>
>> An MBA marketing student I caught out treated me as if it were a
>> customer relations problem and I was a disgruntled customer... "I
>> understand you have some issues with the paper, how can we move toward a
>> satisfactory solution here?"
>>
>> Have fun,
>>
>> David
>>
>> David L. Levy
>> Professor and Chair
>> Department of Management and Marketing
>> University of Massachusetts, Boston
>> 100 Morrissey Blvd., Boston, MA 02125, USA
>> http://www.faculty.umb.edu/david_levy/
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> D.G. Webster, PhD
> Lecturer
> Environmental Studies Program
> University of Southern California
> Los Angeles, CA 90089-0372
> http://wrigley.usc.edu/research/webster.html
>