ENVS 4950 Integrative Seminar in Environmental Studies, ETSU Spring 2012:

Spirituality, Community, and Sustainability: Environmental Education for Awareness and Change

J.H.- Customized Syllabus

updated February 11, 2012

Statement of Purpose:

I am interested in the ways that humans turn to nature for spiritual as well as material benefits, and in the way that community and ethical concerns affect environmental education and environmental policies.

 

As a Sociology major, I am interested in a career that affects public policy through environmental education and action; and that promotes sustainability as well as helping bring people closer to nature.  

 

Additional Texts:

•                     The Good in Nature and Humanity: Connecting Science, Religion, and Spirituality with the Natural World. By Stephen R. Kellert and Timothy Farnham. Island Press, 2002. 277 pages.

•                     2nd text to be determined.

 

Service Placement:

•                     GINI (Green Interfaith Network Inc.)

•                     Johnson City, TN

•                     http://www.greeninterfaith.org/

•                     Carol Landis President of the Board of Directors

 

GINI is a group that is dedicated to bringing together faith organizations from all religions and denominations in Northeast Tennessee and South West Virginia, in order to promote awareness about environmental issues. This group is comprised mostly of Christian organizations.

 

During my service placement I will work on promotional materials. I will also help to gather signatures for a petition to promote the TN Scenic Vistas Act which would prevent mountain top removal in Tennessee for mountains of 2,000ft and higher.  As part of that work, I will talk with other local groups and organizations, as well as set up a booth to hand out information on mountaintop removal, and to promote the TN SV Act.  I will also be attending the Tennessee Environmental Conference in March in Kingsport. I will also be attending GINI meetings that are usually held at the St. John's Episcopal Church (unless otherwise noted) on the third Sunday of every month (with some exceptions) where we will discuss other issues brought up by members, as well as what local religious organizations are doing to raise awareness.