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Running head: ANIMAL ETHICS

Task one: Watch the following TED talk and answer the questions below. Submit your
answers through this assignment for a total of 10 bonus points by the due date.
https://www.ted.com/talks/enric_sala#t-1174410

Questions

1. According to Enric Sala, why is our baseline view of ocean health misleading? How
do biomass pyramids emphasize this point?
2. What is the relationship between reef health and its ability to recover from disasters
such as El Nino or climate change?
3. What solution does Enric propose for returning the oceans to 'pristine' levels? What
evidence does he provide that his solution will work? (provide two pieces of
evidence in your answer)
4. If Enric feels that his solution is such a 'no-brainer' then why aren't governments
doing it? What are the ways Enric thinks these obstacles can be overcome?
5. Thinking about Enric's solution, what difficulties can you see in applying this strategy
to help preserve the health of the Salish Sea? Think of an answer both from a policy
and practical perspective.

The Discussion this week is extra credit (not required) and is worth up to 10 BONUS
POINTS. It involves watching a Frontline video from the PBS website link below (you
can get excerpts on You Tube but I'm not sure if you can get the entire 9
chapters). The program is called HEAT and its a great documentary on the complex
issue of climate change and fossil fuel use. It has nine sequences that can be watched
separately at different times (the entire program is about 2 hours). After you have
viewed the program, help your classmates answer the critical thinking questions
below. The number of bonus points received will be granted the same way you are
graded in discussions and debates.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/heat/view/
Critical Thinking Questions from HEAT online documentary by Frontline.

1. What are the greatest obstacles to reducing the US greenhouse gases as illustrated
by the film? Are these obstacles the same for the entire world?
2. Do you feel (based on the film) that industries are acting environmentally
responsible to help reduce greenhouse gases? Explain.
3. The film illustrated two instructive lessons we should learn when considering the
problem of greenhouse gas reduction. What was really learned from these lessons
and how should we use these lessons for future solutions?
4. Based on the film, do you feel that we have the technology to switch to non-polluting
forms of energy or is there more need to develop infrastructure on renewable
technologies (i.e. make them more efficient and productive?)?
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ANIMAL ETHICS
Choose the ones you find most interesting and feel free to develop your own critical
thoughts about the film and share them with your classmates.

Task 3: Follow the link and watch this TED talk by Jonathon Foley and answer the
questions below. You can receive up to 10 bonus points for this assignment.
https://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_foley_the_other_inconvenient_truth/transcript

1. How does the speaker connect agriculture with loss of biodiversity? Agriculture and
water depletion? Agriculture and climate change? Agriculture and pollution?
2. In order to increase food production, the speaker addresses many of the concepts
we have described in this class but doesn't think any one of them is a 'silver
bullet'. What does he mean by this?
3. What is Jonathon Foley's idea of terraculture? How specifically would it work?