Blog #6

What are you reactions to your GTP reading? What are your preliminary ideas for leading a class meeting focused on this topic?

             I never previously realized how many competing factors impede or hinder the success and effectiveness of environmental policy. First, is the debate over what level environmental policy should even be handled. Is it an issue for local, state or the national government? Second, the myriad of opportunities for environmental policy to be instituted create a conflict in itself. How can one determine which need of the environment is more crucial than another? Third, what economic, political and resource status is the nation currently functioning under? I had always assumed that environmental policy was delayed or overridden due to the obvious and inevitable argument regarding national priorities, but I never imagined so many fundamental issues were still not clear in such a prominent sector of the government.

            My initial thought after reading up on my Group Teaching Project topic Environmental Policy, is to cover the information in sections such as history, political influence, community impact, perceptions and current issues. Each subcategory can be illustrated by providing an applicable example that accurately portrays environmental policy’s functions. Once every facet of environmental policy has been covered and demonstrated through real life events, a hypothetical scenario can be presented to the class and they can utilize the information just covered to decide how the proposed situation should be resolved or even whether or not it should be.