GOAL:

To develop an understanding of the interdependence of all organisms and the need for conserving natural resources

Responsible environmental actions are an obligation of all society but start with the individual.

ECOLOGY R2.00 To understand that public decisions affecting the environment are made through social and political processes designed to represent the wishes of society

2.01 define voting, demonstrating, lobbying, seeking office, and special interest groups.
2.02 participate in role playing of a public meeting held concerning an environmental issue.
2.03 recognize and develop strategies to remediate environmental issues confronting both the state and nation.

I. Define voting.
A. How your vote can be used to represent your wishes.
B. Environmental issues in Presidential campaigns.
II. Seeking political office III. Define demonstrating
A. Right to assemble from first amendment
B. Losing right to demonstrate.
IV. Define lobbying
A. How lobbyists work.
V. Define special interest groups
A. Goals of special interest groups
B. How goals are reached
C. Funding for special interest groups
VI. Explain the format of the public meeting.
VII. Assign roles for the students.
VIII. Conduct the public meeting.

TN COMPONENT OF SCIENCE: Science in Society

GOAL:

To enable students to demonstrate positive attitudes toward science in solving problems and making personal decisions about issues affecting the individual, society and the environment.

4.6 POLITICS - Basic scientific concepts should be available to all individuals enabling each to make logical decisions for themselves and others.

4.6a - Scientific literacy influences the political process.

BENCHMARK: When compromise cannot settle a conflict, a vote may resolve the issue.

TIME REQUIRED:

Two class periods (55 minutes)

A variety of material is available from environmental special interest groups.

Demonstrating, lobbying, seeking political office, special interest groups, voting (Addresses and brief summaries of these groups follow this classroom connector.)

This classroom connector addresses Instructional Objective 2.01.

You have been invited to a really important party Friday night, but you're not sure that your parents will allow you to attend. What will you do to convince them that you should be allowed to attend this party? (Allow time for students to respond.) Can anyone tell me what name is given to the activities you will use in convincing your parents to allow you to attend the party? (lobbying) Lobbying is one of the activities we will discuss today as we look at ways citizens can actively participate in their government and activities they can use to convince government officials to listen to the wishes of the public.

When you reach the age of 18, you will be allowed to participate in a very important activity. Who can tell me what this activity is? (voting) Voting is one form of participation in your government. When you vote, you are exercising your right to help in the selection of those people who will run our country.

How many of you have ever participated in an election of some type? (Allow for response.) Most of you have voted in some type of school election. You have elected class officers and officers of school clubs. What makes you vote for a particular candidate? (Allow for response) In the 1988 Presidential campaigns, one of the important issues concerned our environment. The candidates were often questioned about their stand regarding various environmental issues. When you vote for a candidate, you should determine how that candidate feels about various issues. If you are concerned about taxes being raised, you should determine how each candidate feels about tax increases. If you are concerned about the environment, then you will want to determine the position of the candidates regarding environmental issues before giving your support to one candidate or another. Although you are not old enough to vote at this time, you can participate in an election campaign. Most candidates can use volunteers. Your job as a volunteer might be to stuff envelopes, answer telephones, or hand out pamphlets.

We can use our vote to elect candidates who are sensitive to our wishes and if this does not accomplish what we desire, then we can run for political office ourselves. There are certain requirements that have been established for candidates in the various political offices. These requirements vary from one office to another; however, if we meet those requirements we have the right to run for that political office.

Our right to vote is guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States and its amendments. Another right guaranteed to us by the First Amendment is the right to peaceably assemble. How can people use this right to express their wishes to the government or to other people? (It allows people to demonstrate or picket for their various causes.) If you watch the news then you have perhaps seen people walking in demonstrations for various causes. You may have observed people who were opposed to the building of a nuclear power plant, or who were opposed to the building of a new landfill. These people were letting others know of their concern regarding an issue by marching in demonstration lines. You may have seen news clips when demonstrators were being arrested. Why were they being denied their right to demonstrate? (Allow for response) The key word in the "right to peaceably assemble" is the word peaceably. Most cities and communities have laws regarding procedures for demonstrations. We are allowed to demonstrate as long as we meet local guidelines. These local guidelines might include taking out a permit, taking care to not block doorways, and obeying orders of the police.

At the beginning of today's lesson, I mentioned an activity called lobbying. Who can tell me what type of activity is performed by a lobbyist? (Allow for response.) Lobbys are pressure groups which seek to advance a particular interest. They may accomplish their jobs through a number of different activities.

A lobby may work through communications. They use letter-writing campaigns, visits, and telephone calls to keep members of Congress informed about their special interest.

Lobbys may help politicians through campaign contributions. They may find people willing to make monetary contributions, to perform volunteer campaign duties, or perform personal services. These same contributions may be withheld from politicians who do not vote in a manner acceptable to the lobby.

Lobbyists often use parties, dinners, and other forms of entertainment to enhance friendships with politicians.

At times lobbys of different interests may form alliances to give an impression of greater support of opposition to a particular bill. A good lobbyist can find success for his cause through legal activities without resorting to illegal tactics. Lobbying does not need to involve illegal activities.

As we said earlier, a lobby is a pressure group seeking to advance a particular cause. Lobbys are concerned primarily with influencing politicians to vote in a manner favorable to the cause promoted by that lobby. There are many special interest groups whose particular cause is environment. These groups utilize lobbying as well as many other techniques to promote the interest of that group.

The goals of special interest groups are as diversified as the groups themselves. Some center their interests around animals, others around the oceans, and some are interested in every aspect of the preservation of our environment.

Most environmental groups are dependent upon contributions from supporters for the money they need to attain their goals. They use this money in a variety of ways. Some use educational programs to reach the public believing that as people become more aware of environmental problems, they will work to find solutions. Educational programs consist of television specials, filmstrips available to schools, publishing pamphlets, and producing teaching units which are provided to schools.

Some organizations actually purchase land and set it aside as a nature reserve.

Other organizations encourage individuals and groups to be active in their communities to improve the quality of life and find solutions to problems that threaten public health. Many publish various types of information publications. Several of the publications are in the form of monthly periodicals while others are annual reports.

Most of the conservation organizations are dependent upon contributions from private citizens for most of their support. Some also utilize money from corporations, foundations, and government grants to support their activities.

It is not always possible for an individual to be actively involved with conservation issues at a national or international level. We can, however, be involved at these levels through our membership and financial support of conservation organizations. While it is not always possible to go to Washington to lobby for our beliefs, we can be involved through special interest groups.

Today we have discussed several ways that we as individuals can be involved in influencing the decisions made by our government that affect our environment. Tell me how you can utilize your right to vote to influence decisions made by politicians. (Allow for response.) If you were a politician, how would demonstrators affect your thinking on an issue? (Allow for response.) What can lobbyists do to influence our government officials? (Allow for responses.) How does our support of special interest groups influence decisions made by our government? (Allow for responses.)

1. Divide your students into groups. Have each group write to a special interest group and request information about that group and its activities. Many of the groups will send brochures which could be used by the students to prepare a bulletin board on the work of special interest groups.

2. Invite a local politician to speak to the class about local environmental problems and what he perceives his role to be in solving these problems.

3. Project Wild "Philosophical Differences"

ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

The following organizations are involved in various environmental activities. You might consider writing these organizations for more information. Several have said they will provide free educational materials, newsletters, and reports while others will provide materials at a small cost. Information about these groups has been taken from their own publications.

CONCERN, INC., 1794 Columbia Road, NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

CONCERN is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization that provides environmental information to community groups, public officials, schools, and private citizens. Its goal is to help communities to find solutions to environmental problems that threaten public health and the quality of life. CONCERN encourages groups and individuals to take action in their own communities. Their work depends largely upon annual individual contributions.

CONSERVATION INFORMATION, NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY, 950 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022

The Audubon Society was organized in 1886 to protect birds from cruel and thoughtless slaughter. This interest eventually broadened into a campaign for all wildlife, its habitat and the environment we all share. The Audubon Society is one of our country's oldest and largest conservation organizations. It has been involved in research, developing new legislation, testifying before congressional committees, producing educational materials, and keeping its members informed through several publications and television specials. The Society utilizes funds from memberships and contributions to attain its goals.

NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION, 1412 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20034-2266

The National Wildlife Federation is the world's largest organization of private citizens promoting the conservation of natural resources. This organization is a non-profit group governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. It promotes education programs and activities to help achieve its goals. The National Wildlife Federation looks for volunteers who will help with the NWF affiliate in their own state, contribute to NWF's Planned Giving programs, and work toward improving wildlife habitats in their own back yards. The NWF publishes several periodicals and produces other audio/visual teaching aids.

SIERRA CLUB, 408 C Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

The Sierra Club works on many conservation issues at all levels of society - local, regional, national, and international. The Sierra Club has selected seven issues as national conservation campaigns for 1989 and 1990. These issues are the Clear Air Act Reauthorization, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Protection, BLM Wilderness/Desert National Parks, National Forest/National Parks Protection, Toxics: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Reauthorization, Global Warming/Greenhouse Effect, and International Development Lending.

THE COUSTEAU SOCIETY, 930 West 21st Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23517

The Cousteau Society is involved in many activities including: worldwide environmental education program for the general public, producing films and books about the sea, consulting with world leaders regarding marine protection policies, attempting to introduce environmental protection programs to Third World countries, and assistance to Caribbean nations in developing environmental education programs. The Society produces a number of television and theatrical films and books for educational purposes. The Cousteau Society utilizes funds from memberships and contributions for meeting its financial needs.

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, 1815 North Lynn Street, Arlington, VA 22209

The Nature Conservancy is an international organization committed to the preservation of natural diversity. It seeks to find, protect, and maintain the best examples of communities, ecosystems, and endangered species. The Conservancy have been responsible for the protection of 2,927,648 acres. In some areas, land has been transferred to the management of other conservation groups. The Conservancy owns and maintains some 1000 preserves under its own management. The Conservancy is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization which depends largely upon private contributions.

WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE, 1709 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

The World Resources Institute is a policy research center seeking to determine how societies can meet human needs and nurture economic growth while preserving natural resources. The WRI brings together leading thinkers from many fields and countries to provide accurate information about environmental conditions and to develop workable policy plans. The WRI seeks to bring about positive change by developing realistic solutions to problems. WRI publishes a number of books, reports, and papers to help the public deepen their understanding of environmental problems in the world. The WRI relies on the financial support of foundations, corporations, and government bodies through grants.

WORLDWATCH INSTITUTE, 1776 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20036-USA

Worldwatch Institute is an independent non-profit organization established to alert both politicians and private citizens to trend in the availability and management of both human and natural resources. Worldwatch has published papers and books dealing with issues in energy, technology, the environment, human resources, and population. Financial support is derived from various foundations, sale of Worldwatch papers, subscriptions to Worldwatch publications, and honoraria for speaking engagements.

This classroom connector addresses Instructional Objective 2.02.

(You will need to decide in advance the topic for the public meeting. You should tell the students in advance what is planned so they might do outside reading about the selected topic. They should also discuss the topic with their parents and neighbors. You may want to bring in newspaper clippings about the issue and display them on a bulletin board. This will help the students learn more about the topic, so they can form their own opinions.)

(You will want to decide on the format for your meeting. Public meetings in your community may be conducted differently from the suggestions in this classroom connector. If so, you should change the connector accordingly.)

How many of you have ever attended a public meeting of some sort? (Allow for response.) Are you aware of what goes on at a public meeting? (Allow for response.) Public meetings are another way that citizens can have a voice in their government. Today we are going to conduct a public meeting and allow you to see how citizens can participate in the meeting.

The topic for our public meeting is the location of a new landfill. (If you are making up the topic for the meeting, explain this to the students. If the topic is an actual environmental concern for your community, explain this to the students. The explanation for this classroom connector will be a fictitious landfill.) There are three locations being considered for the landfill. These locations are just north of town on __________________Road, south of town on ________________Road, and west of town on ___________________Road. (Select roads and locations that would be most effective for your class. If there is a river near your town, you might include an area near the floodplain of the river.) How many of you would be affected if the new landfill were located in one of these areas? (Allow for response.) What type of effect would this have on your home?

(At this time you may need to explain the ramifications of a landfill located in the various areas. What will happen to the environment of the area around the landfill? Will the landfill be located in an area where large numbers of people are dependent upon well water for their drinking water? Is it near the floodplain of a river or stream? What will it do to property values?)

We will need to select a mayor who will be the moderator for the meeting. This person will be responsible for recognizing speakers and conducting the meeting. There will be five city councilmen who will later select the location of the landfill. The councilmen will give us reasons why the landfill should be located in various areas. The other members of the class will serve as interested citizens who will speak at the meeting. (Select the mayor and councilmen.)

I will now turn the meeting over to Mayor__________________ and he will begin today's meeting.

(You should have a prepared statement for the mayor to read to start the meeting. You may need to give the councilmen prepared statements. You will possibly need to call on members of the class to express their opinion if they do not volunteer.)

Today we have conducted a public meeting concerning the location of a landfill in our community. What have you learned about the purpose of a public meeting? (Allow for responses.) Public meetings provide you with the opportunity to express your opinion to local officials and to learn more about issues facing our community.

1. (If you feel your class will not participate sufficiently to make role playing a success, then you might want to arrange for a public official to visit the class and explain the purpose of public meetings and how they are conducted.)

2. (If there is a public meeting in your community on any topic - environmental, annexation, etc., encourage your students to attend so they might experience an actual meeting. You might want to give an extra grade for students who attend. Require that they report to the class.)

3. Project Wild "To Zone or Not to Zone"

4. Project Wild "Riparian Zone"

5. Project Wild "When A Whale Is Right"

6. Project Wild Aquatic "To Dam Or Not To Dam"

This is the time this file has been accessed since 11/01/02.

The University of Tennessee at Martin is not responsible for the information or views expressed here.

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