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Extractive Economies: From Nature to Commodity Study Guide

This guide explores the concept of procedural justice, which focuses on the fairness of decision-making processes. It covers the essential components of representation, authority, and voice, and discusses common challenges and practical applications. This content is suitable for learners interested in social justice, governance, and equitable decision-making.

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Human-Environment Relationships

Defining the Environment

Understanding the scope of environments, including natural features, human-made spaces, and social surroundings.

The Two-Way Street Approach

Analyzing how the environment influences human behavior and how humans, in turn, modify their environment.

Space vs. Place

Distinguishing between physical areas (space) and locations imbued with human meaning and significance (place).

Defining Nature

Examining the different meanings of 'nature' as an essential quality, an inherent force, or the material world.

Environmental Justice

Distributive Justice

Studying how environmental benefits (clean air, parks) and burdens (pollution, hazards) are shared across communities.

  • Distributive justice
  • Environmental benefits
  • Environmental burdens
  • Resource allocation
  • Fairness

Procedural Justice

Examining political representation, decision-making authority, and whether affected communities have a voice in management.

  • Procedural justice
  • Distributive justice
  • Political representation
  • Decision-making authority
  • Public participation
  • Voice
  • Consultation
  • Information asymmetry
  • Resource constraints
  • Institutional barriers

Grassroots Movements

Understanding how environmental justice movements emerge locally from the bottom up in response to specific threats.

Environmental Elitism and Greenwashing

Critiquing agendas that reflect privileged interests or organizations that mislead the public about their environmental impact.

Economic and Value Systems

Extractive Economies

Studying models that treat the environment as a collection of commodities to be taken, owned, and sold.

Gift Economies and Reciprocity

Exploring systems based on relationships, sharing, gratitude, and mutual responsibilities rather than immediate repayment.

Linear vs. Circular Economies

Contrasting the 'extract-produce-discard' model with the 'produce-use-repair/reuse' model to reduce waste.

  • linear economy
  • circular economy
  • resource management
  • waste reduction

Indigenous Worldviews

Understanding kin-based relationships and diverse Indigenous knowledge systems regarding land, water, and living beings.

Community and Health

Community Science

Examining collaborative research efforts that increase scientific capacity and build social capital through public participation.

Therapeutic Landscapes

Learning about settings where physical environments, social conditions, and human perceptions combine to support healing.

Nature-Based Prescribing

Barriers to Nature Access

Identifying structural, economic, and social obstacles that prevent equitable access to natural spaces.

Sustainability and Justice

Sustainability Principles

Understanding the core concept of meeting present needs without compromising future generations.

  • intergenerational equity
  • meeting present needs
  • future generations

Just Sustainabilities

Integrating justice, equity, and quality of life with ecological limits to ensure equitable long-term outcomes.

Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up

Comparing institutional/governmental sustainability initiatives with community-led environmental justice responses.

Environmental Stewardship

Exploring the ethical responsibility of individuals and communities to care for and protect the natural world.

  • stewardship
  • ethical responsibility
  • natural resource protection

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