Required Readings
Science in Action 7
pages 163 to 166
or
Science Focus 7
page 174
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Everything we do has consequences. Some are intended whereas others are unintended. Often, we only think about the intended consequences. Once a week, we often have the chore of cleaning the bathtub. Recent introductions of heavy duty chemical cleansers have made this job much easier than in the past. They help us complete the intended chore in a fraction of the time it previously would have taken. But what we often don't consider is the unintended effect these chemicals may have on the environment as they go down the drain, or on our bodies as we breath and come in contact with them. Unintended consequences often happen when we don't consider all the factors in a situation.
Sometimes, the unintended consequences of household actions (such as turning a light on) may not seem that significant. However, on a larger scale, these effects can become a serious environmental issue. As every action and decision has intended and unintended consequences, it is important to balance the needs of humans with the needs of the environment. Keeping this balance is called environmental management. In order to properly manage the environment, we must consider all the factors that play a part in decision making. Human beings are motivated to change their environment for numerous reasons, including economical, ecological, political, recreational, or health-related.
When a farmer purchases his land and plans his farming operation, he must look at a number of factors before deciding which crops, and how many, to put in. If a farmer decides to plant 20 different items, it may take more time and money to manage these crops and get them to market. However, if a farmer chooses monoculture, or the planting of just one crop, he will spend less money because he can specialize on that crop. Only one type of fertilizer or chemical control will need to be used, and the equipment can be customized to making the harvest of the crop much easier. Farms that are intended to produce goods for more than just themselves will tend to specialize. However, farms in rural developing countries may plant numerous crops in order to meet the nutritional needs of the individual family.
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