Class reflection( environmental sociology)

 Men and women have different roles when it comes to the environment. Women, especially in rural areas, are often responsible for taking care of things like water, forests, and farms.  But their knowledge and hard work are often overlooked.  When things go wrong with the environment, like climate change or pollution, women are often affected more than men.  It's important to include everyone's voices in decisions about the environment, so we can find solutions that work for everyone.    EXAMPLE: In many places, women are the ones who get water for their families. They know the best places to find water, how to keep it clean, and how to use it wisely.  But often, they aren't asked for their opinions when it comes to making decisions about water.  When women are included in planning, the solutions are usually better because they understand what the community really needs. This shows how important it is to give women a voice, so we can have a better...

 Indigenous communities have a vast amount of knowledge about their local environments, built up over many generations. This knowledge, called Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), is unique to each place and is passed down through stories, songs, and rituals. It shows how everything in nature is connected and emphasizes taking care of the environment. TEK is about using resources wisely, protecting nature, and making sure ecosystems stay healthy for the future. TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLWDGE (Example) 1. Forests, mountains, lakes, and rivers are often considered sacred in Bhutanese culture. People believe spirits or deities live in these places, so they avoid harming them, which helps conserve biodiversity . 2. Bhutanese farmers use organic and sustainable techniques, such as crop rotation, composting, and using animal manure as fertilizer. Slash-and-burn (tsheri) farming was once common but is now regulated to prevent deforestation. 3.Traditional healers (known as Menpa) use ...

 > Environment realism focuses on the limits of nature, like how much pollution the earth can handle. Social constructivism looks at how people create and understand environmental problems, like how different culture's view pollution. Environment sociology combines these views to get a complete picture of complex environmental issues. Example : In Bhutan, people celebrate "Tshechu festivals" with dances and rituals that honor nature. This shows how culture (social constructivism) can help protect the environment (environmental realism). The festivals are held in scared forests, highlighting their importance for both people and nature.                                           Application to Contemporary issues > Realists are all about the facts and figures the science of climate change, the need for concrete solutions. Constructivists, on the other hand, are more interest...

  Anthropocene : This refers to the period of time where human actions have significantly altered the Earth's systems, including climate, ecosystems, and natural resources.  * Eurocentrism :  The Anthropocene concept is often criticized for being Eurocentric, meaning it focuses primarily on Western perspectives and ignores the diverse experiences and knowledge of indigenous and non-Western cultures. * Indigenous and Non-Western Perspectives :  Many indigenous cultures have long recognized the interconnectedness of humans and the environment, often viewing themselves as part of nature rather than separate from it.  Their traditions, myths, and rituals reflect this deep understanding. * Buddhist Traditions :  Buddhism, for example, has long recognized the impact of human actions on the environment and emphasizes the importance of living in harmony with nature.   Exampl e: Imagine a Tibetan farmer who understands that their actions, like planting cr...

 > This view sees the environment as a real thing, with its own rules, that we can't ignore. It says that we need to live within the limits of nature and that we are caused problems by using too much, mismanaging resources, and going beyond what the earth can handle. The solutions are to use science and conservation to fix the problems and live sustainably.                                                     Social Constructivism >This perspective believes that environmental problems aren't just about facts, but also about how we talk about them, what stories we tell, and how media portray, them its argues that our understanding of environmental issues is shaped by our history, politics and economy, and that powerful groups often decides which problems get attention and which are ignored. It calls for a closer look at how language, beliefs, and ho...