Class reflection( environmental sociology)

Write a short reflection on Buddhist way of environmentally sustainable practice.  The Buddhist approach to environmental sustainability is rooted in interdependence, mindfulness, and compassion. It teaches that all life is connected, and harming the Earth is ultimately harming ourselves. Through the practice of non-harming and contentment, Buddhism encourages a lifestyle that respects nature’s limits and values simplicity over consumption. Modern Buddhists extend their compassion not only to humans but to animals, plants, rivers, and ecosystems, recognizing them as sentient or sacred in their own way. Mindful living—through careful use of resources, reduced waste, and ethical choices—becomes an expression of spiritual practice. Rather than seeing the environment as a resource to be used, Buddhism sees it as a partner in the path to awakening. In this way, environmental care is not separate from spiritual life—it is central to it. This holistic vision offers a powerful, gentle, and...

 Buddhism and Climate change: A Compassion Response 1. Renewed Focus on the Environment:  Modern Buddhist teachings are re-emphasizing care for the earth. Many Buddhists leader now speak directly about the climate crisis as a normal and spiritual. 2. Compassion Expanded Traditional Buddhist compassion (karuna) is no longer limited to people—it is now extended to animals, plants, and entire ecosystems. All life is interconnected, so harming the planet means harming ourselves.   3. Collective Action, Not Just Individual Practice Buddhists are moving beyond meditation alone. Many communities are joining climate movements, supporting sustainability, and calling for ethical living that reduces harm to nature.   4. Inspired by Buddhist Cosmology Buddhist views of the universe—where everything arises through interdependence—support ideas of climate justice and planetary health. The Earth is not separate from us; it’s part of our shared being. In short, Buddhism’s response t...

🧘‍♀️ Traditional Practice & Simplicity  • Simple living is a core part of traditional Buddhist practice.  • Monks and many followers live with few possessions, using only what is necessary.  • This lifestyle is naturally environmentally friendly, producing less waste and using fewer resources 🧡 Ethical Focus  • Buddhist ethics are based on compassion (karuṇā) and non-harming (ahiṃsā).  • People are encouraged to make choices that reduce suffering for all beings.  • Example: choosing food or activities that do not harm animals. 🥦 Practice Gaps  • Buddhism promotes vegetarianism and practices like animal release (freeing captive animals).  • But in real life, not all traditions follow this consistently.  • Some still use animals or damage environments in rituals or local customs.  • This shows a gap between ideals and actual practice 🌍 Anthropocentrism (Human-Centered View)  • Traditional teachings often focus on sentient bein...

 

  Buddhist Cosmology and Nature In Buddhist cosmology, the universe is filled with many types of sentient beings (beings that experience feelings), not just humans. 🌟 Types of Beings in the Universe:  • Humans – like us, capable of wisdom and spiritual growth.  • Animals – part of the cycle of life, also sentient.  • Gods (Devas) – live in heavenly realms but still part of the cycle of rebirth.  • Ghosts (Pretas) – beings suffering from past karma, often invisible.  • Hell beings – those suffering in painful realms due to bad karma.  • Other realms – include demigods and heavenly beings. 👉 Humans are not rulers, just one type among many. All life is connected and goes through samsara (the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth). 🌿 Nature in Buddhist View  • Mountains, rivers, forests are often seen as alive or sacred.  • Nature is respected and sometimes even worshipped.  • The line between sentient (alive) and non-sentient (not alive) is...

FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, CLIMATE VULNERABILITY - Small scale farmers, especially women, are hit hardest by climate events like droughts and floods  -They often lack tools, money and support to adapt to changing weather. -This puts their food and income at serious risks.  NUTRITIONAL INEQUITIES - Big food companies focus on profits, not health. -Processed, low nutrients foods are widely sold, while nutritious options are limited. - Poor communities often face both hunger and poor health despite food being available LOCAL VS. GLOBAL -Indigenous communities are working to protect their food traditions -They grow traditional crops that are better for health and the environment  -This resists global food systems that promotes the saame few crops everywhere.

    From my understanding,                                                                                                                                   CORPORATE CONTROL - Big agribusinesses dominate farming, leaving little space for small farmers. -Women and indigenous communities are especially pushed out or ignored. -This led to loss of local knowledge and unfair farming systems. POLICY BIASES -Government often support large scale farming of single crops(monocultures) -These policies ignore eco- friendly of methods like agroecology. - This weakens sustainable farming and harms the environment. GLOBAL TRADEE IMBALANCES -Many global south countrie...

  From my understanding, TRADITIONAL LNOWLEDGE. - Indigenous communities have long used ecological knowledge to care for land. - Their practices support biodiversity and help adapt to climate changes. - This knowledge is passed down through generation and is valuable for modern environmental solutions. LAND RIGHTS STRUGGLES -Indigenous people often face conflicts over their land. - Big industries, like large scale farming or mining take over their territories. - These pushes out traditional caretakers of the land and harm ecosystem.   SCARED ECOLOGY -Indigenous cultures see nature as scared and spiritually connected to life. - They believe in living in harmony with the environment - This challenge economic systems that focus only on resources extraction and profits.

 >From my understanding FPE looks at how gender, the environment and power are connected. It asks: How do women and men experience environmental issues differently?

  WHAT DOES UPE STUDY? >How nature transform nature and create social and environmental inequality KEY THEMES 1. Urbanization of nature >Cities turn land, water and air into resources for profits EX: Privatized water access in Johannesburg 2. Environmental Justice >Poor and marginalized communities suffer more from pollution and climate risks EX: land contaminated water in Flint, Michigan (U.S) 3. Infrastructure and power > Roads, pipelines, and zoning laws can divide and controls communities EX: U.S. highway projects (e.g. 1-10) displaced black neighborhoods.

 > Plantation Ecologies (PE)  Focus on racialized, capitalist landscapes created by plantation. Highlight how colonialism and slavery shaped land use and labor show how environment degradation and exploitation persist through modern agriculture and global trade. > Urban Political Ecology (UPE)  Analyzes how urbanization transforms nature through power and inequality. Reveals how cities are shaped by socio- political forces, not just natural or neutral process. Focuses on who controls resources like water, land, and air in urban settings. WHAT ARE PLANTATION ECOLOGIES? >Monocultures system built for profit and depend on racialized labor and environmental control. KEY FEATURES 1. Monocultures and ecological harm > one crop replaces natural biodiversity EXZMPLE: Tea plantation in assam push out forests and elephant 2. Long term ecological damage > Soil loss, pesticide pollution, climate risks.  EXAMPLE : Old sugarcane plantation in Louisiana linked to ...

 PLANT + CLIMATE   =   MIGRATION > It can be interpreted in terms of how climate affect plant life, which in turn can drive migration of both humans and animals. > If crops fail or natural vegetation disappears due to droughts, floods, or temperature shifts, people and animals may be forced to move to find food and better living conditions. > It's a chain; climates affect plants - plants affect survival - this causes MIGRATION TEA = Imperial weight- blood tea  imperial war colonial appropriations capitalist exploitation of territories and ecologies British empire empirical crop hypothesis (tea used for imperial/ ambitions entangled ecologies of plant life  tea (India- Africa kanya) > British + indigenous communities + Tea > Travel of tea - movement = Kenya tea industry (20th century) > purple tea ( 21th) century - new variety         

  PLANT- RESOURCES + CENTAL + POWER > Plantation systems are not just agriculture setups they are deeply tied to power structures, economic systems, and cultural exchange.  -RESOURCES - central to power: control over natural resources (like. tea, sugar, wood) is tied to political and economic power. Sandalwood(centered): used as an example of a resources that is valuable and embedded in network of              -cultural exchange             - political dynamics             -economy             -labor and power relation             -orange plant > Plantation crops like sandalwood are not isolated they  are connected to wider networks of power, trade, labor and politics both locally and globally

 In “ The Imperial Weight of Tea ,” Bengt G. Karlsson examines how British colonialism used science, labor control, and environmental domination to transform tea into a global commodity. Focusing on tea plantations in Assam , he reveals how these landscapes were engineered through racialized labor systems and scientific knowledge that served imperial interests. The article highlights how the plantations disrupted local ecologies, displaced Indigenous communities, and imposed monocultures that led to long-term environmental harm. Karlsson argues that the legacy of these systems shaped by power, exploitation, and ecological simplification continues to affect the region today, making tea a symbol of ongoing colonial entanglements in both nature and society.

 Topic: Ecological Modernization Theory Two main views: 1.Ecology of politics >Natural resources affect how governments and societies are built. > Ecology shapes how people solve basic needs. 2. Politics of Ecology > when resources are limited, people must decide who gets what. > Power and privilege decide who benefits or suffers from environmental damage. (EXAMPLE) > Focus on the middle East, especially Israel and Palestine. Topic includes: - land and property -frees and forestation -settlements, water -parks and protected areas and - environmental activism