M 4/22 Warren and Larson (EIB 550-558); Case Study: Newton (CS 86-106)

Topic: The Environment

1. Why, according to the Natural Step view, is sustainability necessary for the continued health and survival of human beings? What is the difference between a cyclical and a linear process?

2. What are the advantages for companies of incremental moves toward sustainability? What are the four system principles that guide such a move?

3. In the Pacific Lumber case, how did the hostile takeover lead to a switch from stable, sustainable business practices to cycles of boom and bust? What are the economic advantages and disadvantages of such a switch for workers, stockholders, and society as a whole?

4. What independent value do diverse ecosystems and endangered species have, and does this value justify the extralegal tactics of Earth First?