Today's schedule is:
9:15 - 11:50 D Block Social and Environmental Sciences
12:30 - 3:05 A Block Criminology
D Block Social and Environmental Sciences - One block in the library/learning commons for your roundtable research. Should Lake Mead fall to 1,075 ft above sea level, the federal government would cut the water to seven states that depend on the Colorado River, according to an agreement they all signed in 2007. If that happens, the states would likely renegotiate the 1922 pact that establishes how the water is to be allocated. The current lake level is 1099 feet.
Your final assignment is to prepare for a round table discussion about what a renegotiated water compact should include. Instead of states you will be representing "user groups" (agriculture, municipalities, power generation, recreation, environmental organizations, Indigenous governments)
Consider all of the following for the round table discussion...
- How much will groups have to share?
- For what purpose should the water be used? Will it be sustainable in the face of growing populations and uncertain climate?
- How can we make our water use sustainable? Are there any conditions that need to be met before different user groups can use the water?
- The original pact for the river was made in 1922. What changes have occurred that would support changes in the pact today?
- Are all the many uses of the Colorado River compatible? If not, what should the priorities be and why?
- Are there fair ways to move water from one use to another?
- Which stakeholders have the power to make these changes?
Remember that the river is a system where all the water is allocated and there is less water available as a whole. Giving more water to any one area or user group means less water available for everyone else. You know your groups. Today research the heck out of it, keep the questions above in mind and come prepared tomorrow to participate in the discussion and come up with solutions.
With Benton (in 145), you'll look at how the ecology of the Colorado River is changing? First we'll study adaptations and the status of endemic/endangered fish populations and secondly we'll look at Tamarisk, an introduced species, to see effects on the river and riparian zone. (What is the value of biodiversity?) From Discover Moab
Riparian lands in the Western U.S. have been severely impacted by many human-related actions, but none so much as the introduction of tamarisk, an invasive and non-native plant. Tamarisk plants hoard light, water and nutrients, and can impact natural systems and destroy native wildlife habitat. The Colorado River Corridor is an ecosystem that has been out of balance for several decades, and now the tamarisk has spread to such an extent that it has effectively altered the natural functions and processes of the ecosystem. The issue is widespread and complex, and there are no easy answers or solutions.
For more on the Tamarisk check out:
The Battle Over the Tamarisk Tree: Ecologists seek balance as one non-native species eradicates another.
Photos: Colorado River battle against a serious enemy -- invasive tamarisk
NPS Grand Canyon Exotic Tamarisk Management
A Block Criminology - We'll continue our discussion on the divisions of murder in Canada (1st and 2nd degree and manslaughter), the extent of murder in Canada, and murderous relations (acquaintance and stranger homicide). After, we'll try to make sense of mass and serial murder. As you know, most murder transactions are done by someone you know (acquaintances not strangers) and the bulk of murder cases are cleared (a suspect identified and a charge laid by Crown Counsel). If that is the case for the majority of homicides then what of multiple murders?
In Canada we have had both mass murderers (Marc Andre Lepine, killing 14 women and injuring 14 others at l'École Polytechnique in Montreal, 1989, and Alexandre Bissonnette, killing 6 and injuring 18 others at a mosque in Quebec City, 2017) and serial killers (Robert William Pickton, convicted of 6 counts of second-degree murder here in BC, Clifford Olson pleading guilty to 11 counts of first-degree murder here in BC and most recently Elizabeth Wettlaufer convicted of 8 counts of first-degree murder, 4 counts of attempted murder and 2 counts of aggravated assault) and Bruce McArthur who plead guilty to each of the eight first-degree murder charges laid against him. Are they Psychopaths?
In the DSM-V, the APA recognizes Antisocial Personality Disorder and Narcissistic Personality Disorder but not Psychopathy. Dr. Robert Hare of the University of British Columbia created a checklist called the PCL-R (Psychopathy Checklist Revised). From Mind Disorders...Hare describes people he calls psychopaths as "intraspecies predators who use charm, manipulation, intimidation, sex and violence to control others and to satisfy their own selfish needs. Lacking in conscience and empathy, they take what they want and do as they please, violating social norms and expectations without guilt or remorse". A prototypical psychopath would receive a maximum score of 40 on hare's PCL-R, while someone with absolutely no psychopathic traits or tendencies would receive a score of zero. A score of 30 or above qualifies a person for a diagnosis of psychopathy while most people with no criminal backgrounds normally score around 5 and many non-psychopathic criminal offenders score around 22.
While both psychopathy and sociopathy are extreme forms of antisocial personality disorders, sociopathy is caused by social or environmental factors whereas psychopathic traits are more innate.
Psychopathology focuses on Anti-Social Personality Disorders (DSM-V) along with sociopathy and psychopathy (hot-headed vs. cold-hearted) Anti-Social Personality Disorder is diagnosed as:
A. There is a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others occurring since age 15 years, as indicated by three (or more) of the following:
1. failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest
2. deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure
3. impulsivity or failure to plan ahead
4. irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults
5. reckless disregard for safety of self or others
6. consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations
7. lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another.
B. The individual is at least age 18 years.
C. There is evidence of conduct disorder with onset before age 15 years.
D. The occurrence of antisocial behavior is not exclusively during the course of schizophrenia or a manic episode.
While both psychopathy and sociopathy are extreme forms of antisocial personality disorders, sociopathy is caused by social or environmental factors whereas psychopathic traits are more innate. From the Atlantic magazine...
In his landmark book on psychopathy, The Mask of Sanity, researcher Hervey Cleckley theorized that some people with the core attributes of psychopathy -- egocentricity, lack of remorse, superficial charm -- could be found in nearly every walk of life and at every level, including politics. Robert Hare, perhaps the leading expert on the disorder and the person who developed the most commonly used test for diagnosing psychopathy, has noted that psychopaths generally have a heightened need for power and prestige -- exactly the type of urges that make politics an attractive calling. In any event, the idea that a psychopath could reach the heights of power is nothing new.So are all mass murderers and serial killers psychopaths? We'll take some more time to understand what a "psychopath" is...specifically a Charismatic Psychopath: charming, attractive liars; gifted at some talent, using it to their advantage in manipulating others; verbally facile fast-talkers who easily persuade others out of everything they own, even their lives
1,516 mass shootings in 1,735 days
Mass Shooting Tracker
Gun Violence Archive
and for help with why check out:
Why are most mass murderers men?
A terrifying link between mass murder and domestic violence
Mass Shootings in the United States: 2009-2016
Why mass shootings keep happening
Mental Illness Is Not the Main Cause of Mass Shootings in America
Scientists Try To Explain What Makes A Mass Murderer
Why Better Mental-Health Care Won't Stop Mass Shootings
And of course the Valentine's Day massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
No comments:
Post a Comment