GEOG 300 Syllabus

Sustainability for the Common Good

Geography 300; Winter 2020

10AM and 12PM MW Sections

Course Web Site: http://www.geo.oregonstate.edu/classes/geo300/

Section 010 MW 10:00-10:50AM, Wilkinson 108, CRN 36111 Section 020 MW 12:00-12:50PM, Kidder 364, CRN 36115


Steve Cook
Office: Wilkinson 140; USE EMAIL or OFFICE HOURS to contact me--I don't have a cell phone, don't use facebook or any other social media.
Best Contact Method!! email: Geog.300@oregonstate.edu USE ONLY THIS EMAIL TO CONTACT ME--I'm not responsible for other email queries.
Office Hours: MW: 9AM-9:45AM usually; MW 11AM-11:45PM always; W 1PM if I know you are coming; or by appointment ; sometimes during these times on Friday--query; or by appointment

Teaching Assistants (There are no phones in Graduate Student Offices)


Kari Davis
Office: Strand 362 ; Mailbox WLKN 104 Office Hours: Wednesday & Friday 11AM - 12PM or by appointment
Email: davikari@oregonstate.edu
No Office Phone


Brian Katz
Office: Strand 331 ; Mailbox WLKN 104 Office Hours: Monday 1-2 & Friday 1-2 or by appointment
Email: katzbr@oregonstate.edu
No Office Phone


Ginny Katz
Office: Strand 347 ; Mailbox WLKN 104 Office Hours: Monday 12-2
Email: katzv@oregonstate.edu
No Office Phone

Required Text--There is no required text for this course.

Grades derived from:
Quizzes (15@ 20 pts.) 300
Recitation Attendance/assignments (6@20 pts.) 120
Group Project (1 @ 100 pts.) 100
C. T. Papers.; 70, 80, 100 pts.) 250
CLASS TOTAL (Approx.) = 770
(Point total may change a little if we add/subtract things)

Grades
93% and above = A 90-92.9 = A-
87-89.9 = B+ 83-86.9 = B
80-82.9 = B- 77-79.9 = C+
73-77.9 = C 70-73.9 = C-
67-69.9 = D+ 63-66.9 = D
60-62.9 = D- Below 60% = Fail

For P/N or S/U students, 70% is required for a P or an S.


Electronic Devices Not Allowed in Geog 300

Electronic device use is not allowed in Geog 300, both lecture and recitation (unless specifically allowed). This does mean your electronic device, be it a laptop, cell phone, or whatever. They are not allowed and you will be asked to leave lecture if I see you using one. This is the only warning.

Make-up Work/ Extra Credit

There is a "Makeup Work/Extra Credit" component in Geog 300. These options to pick up points are intended for those who miss a class or an assignment, but they are open to anyone. Participating in the activities/lectures on the "Extra Credit Opportunities" link will acquire points as noted. Read the guidelines for each event carefully to get credit.
A maximum of 40 points can be acquired by participating in these activities/events. (plus an extra point for using "junk" paper)

ALSO NOTE You can acquire one bonus point for each assignment printed double sided or on used paper (this is in addition to the 40 points mentioned above). And of course excludes extra credit sheets, because I supply this paper.

Emergency Absences. For family or personal emergencies, please contact me as soon as possible so we can address missed assignments.

School Related Absences. For school related absences, contact me BEFORE THE ABSENCE to arrange credit for the missed assignments.


Quizzes


At the end of about 15 lectures there will be an OPEN NOTES 8 minute, 3 question, 20 point quiz. These questions will require one or two sentences each for full credit. Credit will not be automatic, but will require accurate thoughtful answers. Quizzes will be random at the end of the lecture (a sack with some "quiz beans" and some "pass beans" will be on hand. Someone will pluck a "bean" to see if we will have a quiz. If no quiz we'll have a few more minutes of lecture/Q&A.)

"Fair Game" for the quizzes will be important points from lecture, but also major points from the underlying readings listed as "Quiz Fodder" on the syllabus. Quiz Fodders usually give an indication of what you should glean from them. If no guidance is given, you should glean the essence of the reading. You may also be asked to connect the lecture/readings to real life, and finally I may include vocabulary words that I've used in previous lectures. There is a "bonus" quiz at the end of the term that will only improve your quiz average. This allows you to miss a quiz without incurring a penalty OR simply to improve your grade.

I reserve the right to skip or have a quiz without the random selection process.

Quizzes are open notes. This means handwritten notes. What is not allowed are downloaded and printed web pages or searching on an elctronic device--of course this requires personal integrity on your part. It's a nice trait, personal integrity, people will notice. Find the "Quiz Fodder" links on our course webpage, check the hints on the course outline (or get the essence of the article), take some notes and you'll be prepared. Remember that it is a quiz, don't take six pages of notes for a possible 6 point quiz question.

Each question is worth 6 points, and having Quiz #; Your Name; TA Name; Rec. Time; and Date is worth 2 points for a total of 20 points.


Group Projects


All students will become a member of a six-person group and will complete a project that requires 4 hours of Field Work; a Group Presentation, a Group Paper and Group Leader write-up.

For a comprehensive explanation of Group Projects: Click Here


Critical Thinking Papers



These papers are designed to help you become better researchers and writers in the process of investigating topics related to the course. Some would call them "position papers." They also have the added benefit of reducing stress as there are no exams in the course.

There is a rigid Critical Thinking format; concise, high quality writing and exact length; accurate and appropriate use of sources, cited properly, including a complete, properly formatted List of Sources. They get progressively more valuable. CT # 1 = 70 points; CT # 2 = 80 points; CT # 3 = 100 points

For a comprehensive explanation of the papers: "Critical Thinking Papers"


Course Outline





Week-1 January 6: Is this a course for "Oregon Hippies" or for budding "Sustainability Heroes" Is the world connected? Let's take a vicarious voyage to Vietnam to see how the 5 billion of the world live.
Quiz Fodder: Cellphones in class A piece from NPR on cell phones at concerts.
Quiz Fodder: Laptop notetakers A piece from the New York Times citing much research that students that take notes by hand do better in school.
Sarah Cynthis Sylvia Stout & Pope Francis

January 8 "Sustainability. Is it really a hardship and more expensive to live more sustainably?"
Reference: What do you say to a climate denier?
Reference: "The Pale Blue Dot" by Carl Sagan
Quiz Fodder: "The Green New Deal"
This one is for you. Find an article that either supports this idea or one that opposes it. Record the title; take a few notes to get the essence of the argument and voila! you're set.
Quiz fodder: TED Talk Steve Howard "Let's go all in on selling sustainability" What does Howard mean by "all in?" Have a good definition and three benefits.
Quiz fodder: Lester Brown, et. al Chapter 1, "Changing Direction" What is the essence of Chapter 1? Have two solid points, not just stuff from the first page--what is this chapter telling us?

January 10: Go To Recitations. Intro to course. Intro to Critical Thinking Papers & Carbon/or Ecological Footprint discussion.

GTA introductory Powerpoint


Do ONE of These BEFORE coming to Recitation on January 10:
Your Ecological Footprint

Water-Footprint-Calculator
Week-2 January 13 Over population and Over consumption I--how we got here.
Quiz Fodder-T.R. Malthus "Essay on Population." Know two important points from this famous essay.
Quiz Fodder: TED talk Charles C. Mann, "How will we survive when the population hits 10 billion?" 1) He talks about the "wizard" and the "Prophet." Be able to explain the point of view of each.
Quiz fodder-Center for Biological Diversity This environmental group is the only one that is raising awareness of the impacts of human population growth. Click on "Population" and then click on two of the links, finding two solid points from each relating to population growth.

January 15 Over population and over consumption II--where we are headed. "What am I doing in this handbasket and where are we going???"
Quiz fodder-"National Geographic: Feeding 9 Billion; a Five Step Plan" Be able to list the five steps, and elaborate on ONE.
Quiz fodder-"Rice farming up to twice as bad for climate change as previously thought, study reveals" Three questions 1) how important is rice to global food supply?; 2) How significant is the methane production from rice fields?; and 3)What about nitrous oxides?
Quiz fodder-"What is your Consumption Level?" Jared Diamond, "What is your consumption level?" This piece is a little dated, but I really like how Professor Diamond structures his points. What does Professor Diamond say? Two important points.

January 17: Come to Lecture Room: 10AM to WLKN 108; 12PM to Kidder 364, NOT Recitation Rooms. We have lectures on about half of the Fridays. Keep track of the Course Outline Page
January 17: Myanmar/Burma slide show.
Why show slides like this in a "sustainability" class? Think about it.
Quiz fodder-The Irrawaddy news site" It's a busy site--CHOOSE NEWS ARTICLES ON BURMA. Have Two important points from TWO articles.
Quiz Fodder-Lifeboat Ethics Garrett Hardin's famous essay "Lifeboat Ethics." Hardin wrote this in 1974. Are there applications to what Hardin wrote in today's world. Don't generalize, take at least one of his specific points and direct it at today's situation.
Quiz Fodder-Southeast Asia's plastic addiction blights the world's oceans Look for the essence of this article. Why? Significance? What to do?

Penultimate Draft of Critical Thinking Paper # 1 due NEXT WEEK, Friday, January 24 in recitation. Bring a finished (the best you can do) paper or lose points.
Week-3 January 20 No class. Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King's Birthday. No classes, BUT there is an assignment. These "holidays" should mean something. Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King believed in the common good, and to "celebrate" his birthday, you are required to participate in something related to his birthday. There are many options noted on the OSU website.
Click here to go to the OSU webpage listing events/activities/volunteer sites (you are not limited to these events/activities, participating in an event/activity in another town is just fine. To receive the 20 points bring to Recitation on January 24: 1) Notes signed by an organizer; 2) 250 word write-up of your participation.

January 22: Lecture Today: Drinks--Coffee, Tea, Cocoa, Milk
Reference: WATCH THIS "Follow the Frog"
Reference-"Bye bye rBST A nice little reassuring opinion piece that consumer pressure does work.
Quiz Fodder-"ALERTNET" Do Fair Trade Labels Actually Mean Anything? After looking at this piece do you feel comfortable with your "Fair Trade" purchases? Why or Why Not?
Reference-"Slave Free Chocolate" OK. See any your recognize--they are at the First Alternative Co-Op. How do we know--who says they are "slave free"?
Quiz Fodder-Raconteur-Child Labour: the true cost of chocolate production What is going on? There are several subheadings. Know the info in ONE, as well as in the last one "The Journey to Slave Free Chocolate."
Quiz Fodder "Milking cows the modern way at mega-dairies Three Mile Canyon Dairy is huge and partially self sustaining--be able to compare/contrast four aspects of this megadary with the next Quiz Fodder "Garrys lady Lane Farm".
Quiz Fodder-Garrys Lady Lane Farm Garrys Lady Lane Farm is tiny compared to Three Mile Canyon Dairy above--be able to compare/contrast four aspects of this tiny dairy with the previous Quiz Fodder "Milking cows the modern way at mega-dairies above."

January 24: Go to Recitation.
Peer-review check of your CT # 1 to help you avoid getting a zero on the paper. To receive full credit for this recitation, you MUST bring a final hard copy draft of CT # 1. We are serious about zero scores on CT Papers. Get engaged here.

CT # 1 Final (Ultimate) Paper Due Monday, January 27 by 5PM in TA Mailboxes in WLKN 104
Week 4 January 27: CT # 1 Paper must be submitted for grading in TA Mailbox in WLKN 104 by 5PM. We don't accept stuff late.
January 27: Pesticides and Household Chemicals
Environmental Heroes use vinegar and baking soda to clean up (and Bon Ami, of course "Hasn't Scratched Yet").
Reference: "Toxic America" This CNN multi-media/multi-part investigation headed by Dr. Sanjay Gupta is a very useful up-to-date source of information about toxic chemicals and our health. I highly recommend it if you have children, or anticipate having children in the next few years.
Reference:Healthy Home, From Metro in Portland
Reference Web MD For a sobering look at Organophosphate pesticides and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder).
Reference A really good websote to help better understand toxics and children.
Reference The National Pesticide Information Center tries to do more than list toxics. Do a search on "Bedbugs" for some cool stuff--recognize any of the symptoms?
Reference for Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry. I believe that this Federal Government agency is the best source of information on toxics.
Reference 1 minute DDT spraying video.
Reference 5 minute OPB Earth Fix video on lead arsenate.
Reference Center for Biological Diversity press release on the settlement with the EPA to study Atrazine and Glyphosate impacts on 1500 endangered species.
Reference-Atrazine "Why do we love Atrazine." A good site by Atrazine oppponents citing many supporting studies.
Quiz Fodder-Pesticides in Food A nice little webpage, but notice the buttons for the "Dirty Dozen" and "Clean 15." If you find yourself trying to get the most "bang" for your organic "buck" here is a guide to help you decide which produce to spend the extra money for Organic. For the quiz, have both lists.
Quiz fodder-Household Products Database Look up two products you use and what you found under "Health Effects".
Quiz fodder: The Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 (Federal) has been replaced with the "Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act" This is a summary of the changes. There are six bold headings. Know two provisions from two. This may seem boring, but it is the biggest deal in toxic chemical regulation in forty years. These rules do affect you, even if you don't realize it or care.

January 29: Synthetic Chemicals. Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products.
Reference Here is a link to "Greenlivingonline". It it a discussion of "Six Make-up Chemicals to Avoid." Should be particularly useful for women.
Reference Here is a place to buy toxic-free personal care products and a source of ingredients from which to make your own.
Reference The book "Natural Beauty at Home" has recipies in it to make your own personal care products.
Reference For a link to the book "Not Just a Pretty Face: The ugly side of the beauty industry." It is the unvarnished, sobering, frightening truth about the stuff we put onto our bodies.
Reference For a link to the book "Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products and What's at Stake for American Power." The government is not looking out for your welfare.
Reference This is a really cool website on how to make environmentally friendly cleaning products from ordinary ingredients. I'll give you extra credit points for making and using two of these.
Quiz Fodder-Good Guide This webpage covers a wide range of products and rates them. They use a rating system for products including several components. Compare a product that you use with a similar product that they recommend.
Quiz fodder-Bisphenol: what to know about the chemicals in water bottles and cans From the article, please--What is the essence of this article, is this stuff dangerous or not? Why or why not?
Quiz Fodder: "Phthalates in Fast Food, eat more, get more." What is the essence of this article. How significant are phthalates in our food?

January 31 Lecture Today--Come to Lecture Hall: "Guerilla Sustainability"
Click here for the Powerpoint slides on Cook's systems.
Reference Seventh Generation. Perhaps the largest sustainable paper and home cleaning supplies company.
Reference Eden Foods. Perhaps the food company with the highest ethical standards of them all.
Reference--ODEQ Gray Water Fact Sheet
Quiz Fodder--Solar Water Heaters Lots of Info Here. There are several ways of differentiating these systems--understand the differences.
Quiz Fodder--Heat Pump Water Heaters First--What does a heat pump do? (simple answer) Then: Scroll down to "How they Work" and be able to explain how they work. Finally: Why should we be excited about these babies?
Quiz Fodder-Rainwater Collection System Have two benefits and two drawbacks of these systems.

Week-5 February 3: Agricultural Systems
Cook's Ppt on Agricultural Systems.
Reference: The Food Alliance.
Reference: Shepherd's Grain is a Central Washington group of farmers growing according to Food Alliance principles.
Reference for information on local Farmer's Markets.
Reference for a nice webpage on Organic Agriculture in the US.
Quiz Fodder: What's the healthiest fast food burger chain? Generally yuck is my take. What is yours? Why should you look for "grass fed?" What is a problem with claims of "grass fed?"
Quiz Fodder: Burgerville Is this outfit as cool as they present themselves? Why or why not--two solid points.
Quiz Fodder: Mayo Clinic "Organic Foods--are they safer? More nutritious?" Several headings here--look specifically at "Organic food--is it safer or more nutritious? There are five headings, read 'em all and take some notes.

February 5 Growing Our Own Food
Cook's Ppt on Growing Our Own Food:
Reference-Ten Rivers Food Web Source for all things related to local/sustainable food in the South Willamette Valley.
Reference Raised Bed Gardening. There is a ton of useful information on this website for those thinking of raised bed gardening.
Quiz Fodder-"10 Questions for Michael Pollan." Have two questions and their accompanying synopsized answers.
Quiz Fodder--Four Reasons you should Grow your own food Well, what are the four reasons? Which one resonates most with you and why?
Quiz Fodder- TED talk by Davita Davison: "How Urban Agriculture is Transforming Detroit." Glean the essence of this piece, including two crucial points.

February 7 Lecture Today: Preserving Our Own Food
Cook's Ppt on Preserving Our Own Food
Reference OSU Extension Service with the answers to most of the questions that home canners would ask.
Quiz Fodder--National Center for Home Food Preservation A lot of stuff here for home preservers, but look at "How Do I?" on the left side. Pick one and demonstrate that you understand how to . . . "Can, Freeze, Dry, Ferment, Pickle, Make Jam or Jelly or Store"
Quiz Fodder--Canning 101 Basically a hard copy explanation of my class presentation, giving you the opportunity to review. There are a numbered series of headings. Which one was most enlightening for you and why?
Quiz Fodder--David Suzuki Foundation--Don't Confuse "Best Before with Expired" Finally, for the perishable stuff that you do buy, what do the labels they on perishable food really mean? Two important things that you learned here.

Week 6 February 10 Bottled Water--use and environmental implications.
Click here for Bottled Water Powerpoint--this may not be the final version--pertinent quiz questions would come from the lecture.
Reference "Corvallis Water Quality Report" All the stuff the City tests for in our drinking water is here is elaborate detail.
Quiz Fodder: Canadian Broadcasting Company "Here's what's in your bottled water" It's 17 minutes long, so skim it if you must. But you MUST glean the answer to the title "Here's what's in your bottled water"
Quiz Fodder: 2018 Bottle Bill Expansion FAQs Know the first two Q & A on this fact sheet.
Quiz Fodder--CNN-Midway, a plastic island Everyone, not just "greenies" should watch this video. Heard of the Pacific Garbage Patch. Well, Midway Island, one of the most remote places on Earth is grouond zero. Think your plastic trash doesn't matter? Know enough to show that you watched the video.

February 12: Guest Speaker John DeVoe, Water Watch of Oregon John joined the WaterWatch staff in 2003 after practicing law for 13 years in Portland, most recently as a partner in a larger Portland law firm. John's practice focused on environmental and natural resource issues as well as condemnation and civil litigation. He earned his law degree with honors from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana in 1990, and a B.A. in Philosophy from Columbia College in New York in 1985. John is a member of numerous conservation organizations and enjoys birding and backcountry skiing. He is thrilled to work on behalf of Oregon's rivers (and their inhabitants).
Quiz Fodder: Waterwatch of Oregon/ See who our guest speaker John DeVoe leads and what they do. What issues do they focus on?
Quiz fodder for a good overview of Oregon water law. What are three important points? (Be careful, some of the points only apply to water in the eastern US.)
Quiz Fodder: Oregonian--Draining Oregon/ A long investigative piece by the Oregonian newspaper. If you don't want to read it at least scroll down to "Among the Findings" and know all four.
Reference: Oregonian--Draining Oregon--related editorials/ Want to know more? Read these editorials related to the Oregonian Story above.

February 14 Lecture Today: In Class Activity All About Plastic
On February 14 we will have an in-class exercise looking at everything plastic.
1)I will randomly assign a subject related to plastic to your Group Project Group.
2) I will notify your Group Leader of your assignment.
3)The Group Leader will contact other Group Members and dole out sub-assignments. Each Group Member will be responsible for one sub-section of the topic.
4) The first 20 minutes of class will be used to combine what the group members found (bring laptops and cellphones if research is stored on them), including:
a) a brief presentation to the class,
b) a 125 word compilation of your findings; and
c) a haiku OR a limmerick about your topic.
5)Turn in (one per group) a hard copy of the 125 word compilation and the haiku/limmerick or send me an email to Geog.300@oregonstate.edu during class today.
6) Include all group member's names who are present; Recitation Time; and TA name on write-up and haiku/limmerick.
This is a 20 point project in lieu of a quiz, and there is no intention to require you to meet as a group outside of class.

Questions, just ask.

Week 7 February 17 Public Land Let's travel across Oregon's Federal public land.
Click Here For Cook's Powerpoint "Oregon's Federal Public Lands"
Reference HJ Andrews Experimental Forest. Go take a look--there is a 2 mile "Old Growth Trail." Take the road on the right side of the river, then go a ways (sorry I can't remember how far) watching for the trail sign on the right. Or drive to the end of the road and walk back on the trail.
Quiz Fodder: Oregonian/oregonlive.com Majestic Douglas fir stood for 420 years. Then Oregon State University foresters cut it down So what is going on here? Synopsize the article.(if this website doesn't come up, Google: Oregonian MacDonald forest old growth and then click on the title above.
Quiz Fodder-Oregon Natural Desert Association List three solid facts that would define this organization.
Quiz Fodder-Oregon Wild Across the top of the webpage: Wilderness, Water, Wildlife, Forests. Be able to cover two items under ONE of these headings.
Quiz Fodder: New York Times--"Living Off a Glacier" In a Peruvian Desert, Melting Glaciers Are a Godsend (Until They are Gone). Be able to explain the basics of what is going on in NW Peru.

February 19: Erosion (Some lecture some Slides). Why is the Mediterranean Basin all rocks?
Click Here For Cook's Powerpoint on Erosion
Quiz fodder-Climate Central-Brian Kahn "More Rain, Less Snow for US Winters." 1) How does Oregon Fair compared to other states?; and 2)There are a number of sub-headings in this article, e.g. "Larger Wildfires are More Common." Be able to list all 5, or expound on ONE.
Quiz fodder-Global Erosion How Can Soil Erosion Cause Our Doom? Loss of Nutrients Poised to Cause Massive Famine? Know three points.
Quiz fodder-Conquest of the land through 7,000 years for a classic look at Mediterranean erosion. Loudermilk visited ancient sites in the Middle East/North Africa. Be able to describe ONE of these sites and what he surmised was the cause of their demise. And what is the "Eleventh Commandment?" When combined with the above article on global erosion and the lecture, you should find this sobering. As the Cornell study says, soil erosion is second only to population as a threat to long-term human sustainability.

February 21 Go To Recitation-- "Let's Avoid Zeros on CT Papers" with peer review writing workshop. To receive full credit for this recitation, you must bring a final draft of CT # 2 for peer review.

Click here for the Powerpoint explanation for this Recitation.

Click here for the "GEOG 300 WEEK 7 RECITATION: CT 2 PEER-REVIEW ACTIVITY." guide.

Final version of CT # 2 Due next Monday, February 24 , by 5PM in TA Mailbox WLKN 104. We don't take stuff late

Week 8 February 24 Renewable Energy-Wind
Click here for Cook's Powerpoint on Wind Energy.
Reference-Renewable energy from Pacific Power.
Reference: This National Renewable Energy Lab includes maps shows installed capacity by state since 1999.
Quiz Fodder: What are the advantages and disadvantages of offshore wind farms? Two advantages and two disadvantages.
Quiz Fodder: "Wind Turbine Interaction with Wildlife 2017 Summary" What does it say? Two significant points.
Quiz fodder: Scientific American, Michael Klare, April 22, 2015 "The Age of Wind and Solar Is Closer Than You Think" Why is the age of wind and solar closer? What is driving the change. (Don't say "climate change" that is too simplistic.

February 26 Renewable Energy--Solar
Reference This is the Powerpoint used in class today.
Quiz Fodder: New Yorker, Bill McKibbin, June 26, 2017 "Solar Power Africa." Like all New Yorker articles this is a long one. Scan it unless you are really interested. What is going on? Grid? Micro Grid? Distributive? What are the differences. What can a typical rural African get from a little solar panel on the roof?
Quiz Fodder: smartgrid.gov The little animated video tells the basics. Then there are a four sub-headings. Know the sub-heading "What does the Smart Grid do?"
Quiz Fodder: Passive Solar Homes Glean enough to explain to the dumbest person you know what a passive solar home is and why we should be excited about this design.

February 28 Lecture Today: Geothermal and "Negawatt"
Reference Geothermal-Negawatt Powerpoint for today.
Reference: Bloomberg News "Windmills and Batteries to Attract Billions in the Green Energy Revolution."
Reference: Why Not Nuclear? Read this carefully to see all of the reasons that we won't ever have a "nuclear renaissance." The industry has many cheerleaders, but few builders. Why?
Reference Geothermal Energy in Oregon map.
Reference: Geothermal Energy Explained
Quiz fodder-TED Talks-Energy Well, there must be something here that interests you, 13 TED talks on energy. Pick one, synopsize it.
Quiz Fodder: Bloomberg News "Energy Storage Investments Boom As Battery Costs Halve in the Next Decade." Why? Where will this storage take place? Why should we be excited?
Quiz Fodder: Methane Hydrates There are enough photos and links to articles on Methane Hydrates to satisy even the most curious. Whichever one you choose to investigate, you need to know three things: 1) What is a Methane Hydrate; )Where do they form naturally; and 3) Why should we care--what is the potential impact of this stuff (need both negative and positive components here)?

Week 9 March 2 Animal Welfare: What do we owe the animals that feed us?
Reference: Pig welfare a two minute Chipotle Grill piece featuring Willie Nelson singing a take-off on the Coldplay song "The Scientist." It's poignant, cute, and succinct.
Reference: Baraka movie Chicken Factory a three minute video showing the treatment of recently hatched chicks.
Reference-Oregon SB 694 Pigs get treated better in Oregon--eventually.
Reference-California Prop. 2 More encompassing than Oregon's new law.
Reference Here is a nice explanation of egg labeling.
Reference: Global Animal Partnership This organization certifies humane animal treatment.
Reference: Pig welfare An NPR piece about McDonald's restaurantes telling suppliers that they won't buy from suppliers using "gestation crates."
Reference For an NPR interview with Jonathan Safran Foer the author of "Eating Animals." Have two significant points from this interview.
Quiz Fodder We may as well have a look at what a CAFO (Confined Animal Feeding Operation) looks like. Just sit for a couple of minutes and watch the photos change on this page. Have a good personal defintion of a CAFO.
Quiz Fodder "Is Grass-Fed Beef Really Better For The Planet? Here's The Science" What does science say? Be able to explain the essence of this article. It is a messy one that you'll probably have to read. The world is never simple.
Quiz fodder-Animal Welfare For a sobering animated bit of Industrial animal production. They are a takeoff on "The Matrix." What is the point of these videos? Watch at least one and be able to synopsize it.

March 4 Guest Speaker: Jessie from Totum Farm, Humanely raised animals.
Quiz Fodder: Totum Farm. What do these guys specialize in? Where are they located?
Reference-Halal Butchering of animals The Muslim religion has very specific requirements to follow when butchering an animal, with an emphasis on respecting the animal. This YouTube video goes through the process quite simply. Highly recommended.
Reference-Country Natural Beef Country Natural Beef--A "natural" alternative, started by Oregon Ranchers, and still with an Oregon focus.
Quiz Fodder: Washington Post, June 15, 2017 "Many people think a cage-free life is better for hens. It is not that simple." Why not? Know at least two problems with "cage free" chicken operations.
Quiz fodder-Joel Salatin Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms "invented" or perhaps "rediscovered" Intensive Grass Management as a system to raise meat. On the opening screen wait for "Know your Food and your Farmer" to come up, then click on "Our Production Process" There are six components listed. Know them all and have two important facts for two.
Quiz fodder: Willamette Week"Oregon Eggs Must Come From Cage-Free Chickens in Five Years" What does the law say? Any problems?

March 6: Go to Recitation Group Project Work Day.

Click here for the "GEOG 300 Week 9 Group Project Work Day guide.

Week 10 March 9: Open Forum--Karaoke if you like You bring the topic and Cook will sing. Seriously, we've dedicated one lecture period to Q and A the last few terms and students found it worthwhile. Bring your questions, concerns, conjectures, challenges, and I'll respond the best I can. Student input is welcomed also.
Scoring is a two component deal:
1. Bring your three typed well throught out questions,
AND
Complete the online "Student Evaluation of Teaching"
Receive 20 points for Questions + 5 points for the SET = 25/20 points for the class
BUT
FAIL to complete the SET:
Receive 10 points for the questions = 10/20 for the class.

Interesting piece "Anything is Possible." Mick Ebeling wrote a book "The Art of the Impossible: The art and joy of doing what couldn't be done" In his book he lists six points that he feels are important to chasing your dream of helping others. (And a "Meet the People" at the end, but it doesn't really cound as one of the points.) LIST the six points, then elaborate on the two that you think would be the most difficult to achieve and why.
Another interesting piece--be prepared for a lot of company in the Willamette Valley. Portland Will Still Be Cool, but Anchorage May Be the Place to Be On a Warmer Planet, Which Cities Will Be Safest? Have Two important points.

March 11 Concluding remarks.
Quiz Fodder: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. What is its mission? What have they been doing lately?
Reference Albanian Alps Institute. Steve's 2015 trip.
Quiz fodder Albanian Alps Institute web page. What is its mission? What have they been up to lately?
Quiz fodder: Lester Brown, et. al Chapter 9, "The Accelerating Transition" Brown is so positive about all this. Why? Is he being a realist or fantacizing? Answer this question from his writing in this chapter.
Quiz fodder "Green America" Let's end our Quiz Fodders with something positive! Top Ten Solutions to Reverse Climate Change (From the book by Paul Hawken). What are they--List All Ten, and investigate the one that you feel is most important.

Friday, March 13 Go to Recitation Group Project Presentations and Papers due. Note! Group project presentation/Powerpoint Presentation is due by 5 p.m. Thursday, March 12. Email it to your TA.
NOTE: CT # 3: Get a 10% bonus for submitting to TA Mailbox in WLKN 104 by 5PM on March 13.

Monday March 16 Critical Thinking Paper # 3 due by 5PM in TA Mailbox WLKN 104.