At the bottom of your student webpage, create a header called "Journal."  You are to copy the prompts below to that section of your webpage and then answer them.  When you copy the prompt, change the color or font so that it can be distinguished from your responses.

Journal Prompts:

Journal One:   Respond to ONE of the following prompts:

Chapter 1:  What does the word “sustainable society” mean to you?  Do you believe that it is possible for the society you live in to become a sustainable society within the next 50 years?

Chapter 2:  Some analysts believe that the world’s remaining hunter-gatherer societies should be given title to the land on which they and their ancestors have lived for centuries and should be left alone by civilization.  They content that we have created protective reserves for endangered species, so why not create protective reserves for cultures?  What do you think?  Explain.

Chapter 3:  Imagine that you have the power to violate the law of conservation of energy (the first energy law) for 1 day.  What are the three most important things you would do with this power?

Journal Two: Respond to ONE of the following prompts:

Chapter 4:  Why could the total amount of animal flesh on the earth never exceed the total amount of plant flesh, even if all animals are vegetarians?

Chapter 5:  In what way do humans occupy generalist niches and in what ways do they occupy specialist niches?  Do you think humans should become more dependent on a greater variety of foods and energy resources to promote long-term survival and sustainability?  Explain and discuss the short and long term economic and political consequences of such a shift.

Journal Three: Respond to ONE of the following prompts:

Chapter 6:  Some biologists have suggested restoring large herds of bison on public lands in the North American plains as a way of restoring remaining tracts of tall-grass plains.  Ranchers with permits to graze cattle and sheep on federally managed lands have strongly opposed this idea.  What do you think about the idea of restoring large numbers of bison to the plains of North America?  Explain. 

Chapter 7:  You are a defense attorney arguing in court for sparing an underdeveloped old growth tropical rainforest and a coral reef from sever degradation or destruction by development.  Write your closing statement for the defense of EACH of these ecosystems.  If the judge decides you can save only one of the ecosystems, which one would you choose and why?

Chapter 8:  Suppose a hurricane blows down most of the trees in a forest.  Timber company officials offer to salvage the fallen trees and plant a tree plantation to reduce the chances of fire and to improve the area’s appearance, with an agreement that they can harvest the trees when they reach maturity and plant another tree farm.  Others argue that the damaged forest should be left alone because hurricanes and other natural events are part of nature and the dead trees will serve as a source of nutrients for natural recovery through ecological succession.  What do you think should be done and why?

Journal Four: Respond to ONE of the following prompts:

Chapter 9:  Suppose because of disease or genetic defects from inbreeding, the wolves on Isle Royal (page 197) die off.  Should we (a) intervene and import new wolves to help control the moose population or, (b) let the moose population grow until it exceeds its carrying capacity and suffers another population crash?  Explain.

Chapter 12:  Congratulations – you have just been put in charge of the world.  Explain the 5 most important features of your population policy.

Chapter 11:  Evaluate the following statements: (a) we should not get so worked up about exposure to toxic chemicals because almost any chemical can cause some harm at a large enough dosage. (b) we should not worry so much about exposure to toxic chemicals because through genetic adaptation, we can develop immunity to such chemical.

Journal Five:   Respond to ONE of the following prompts:

Chapter 10:  In the area that you live, are you more likely to experience an earthquake or a volcano eruption?  What can you do to escape or reduce the harm if such a disaster strikes?  What actions can you take when it occurs?

Chapter 13:  Some people argue that starving people could get enough food by eating non conventional plants and insects; other point out that most starving people do not know what plants and animals are safe to each and cannot take a chance on experimenting when even the slightest illness could kill them.  If you had no money to grow or buy food, would you collect and eat protein-rich grasshoppers, moths, or other insects?

Journal Six:   Respond to ONE of the following prompts:

Chapter 17:  Congratulation!  You are in charge of reducing air pollution in your country.  List the 3 most important features of your policy.

Chapter 18:  Do you agree/disagree with the argument by developing countries that developed countries should bear the brunt of reducing carbon dioxide emissions because they produce most of the emissions?  Explain.

Chapter 19:  Your town (town B) is located between towns A and C.  What are the rights and responsibilities of upstream communities to downstream communities?  Should sewage and industrial wastes be dumped at the upstream end of a community that generates them?

Journal Seven:   Respond to ONE of the following prompts:

Chapter 15:  The United States now imports more than half the oil it uses and could be importing 64% of its oil by 2020.  Explain why you are for or against continuing to increase oil imports.  What do you believe are the 5 best ways to reduce oil imports?

Chapter 16:  Congratulations!  You have just won $150,000 to build a house of your choice anywhere in the country.  What type of house would you build?  Where would you locate it?  What types of materials would you use?  What types of materials would you not use?  How would you heat and cool your house?  How would you heat your water?  Considering fuel and energy efficiency, what sort of lighting, stove, refrigerator, washer and dryer would you use?  Which of these appliances could you do without?

Chapter 21:  Explain why you support or oppose requiring that:

1. all beverage containers be reusable
2. all household and businesses sort recyclable materials into separate containers for curbside pick-up
3. garbage collecting systems implement the pay-as-you-trash approach
4. consumers pay for plastic or paper bags to encourage the use of reusable shopping bags