Introduction to the POET Model:
|
Although primarily regarded as an ecological model best applied to studying the relationship between human beings and their environment, the POET (Population, Organization, Environment, Technology) model can shed light on a wide variety of social problems. Palen has stated that, "Solving social problems in the real world involves social and economic costs. The solution to one problem may produce problems elsewhere (p. 24)." Social institutions are tightly interconnected. A change in one institution will very likely produce changes in another. For example, raising the quality of medical care for all Americans involves trade-offs that have social and economic consequences for society. |
|
Ecology:
Ecology is the scientific
study of the relationship between organisms and their environment.
Modern environmentalism differs from conservationism of the
past. Environmentalists are really ecologists in that they emphasize
the impact of changes in population, technology, and social organization on
the environmental system. Example of Environmentalism: Build a coal-fired power plant in Tennessee and all states down wind from it will be impacted. Cut down forests in Brazil and you have the potential to harm air quality around the world. Environmentalists see the environment as a series of interdependent areas that are linked together. Example of Conservationism: set aside a part of the forest while permitting extensive logging in another part. (Conservationists conserve or save resources for future use). Conservationists see the environment as a series of independent and isolated areas. (Land is set aside and "conserved" for future use). |
|
The
"POET" scheme: This is an ecological model-- (functionalist)-- that emphasizes the interrelationship between four variables-- Population; Organization; Environment; and Technology: According to the Malthusian model, the population "explosion" will have dire consequences on the environment (See Chapter 6). Marxists argue that changing the form of social organization from capitalism to communism could control the impact of population growth on the environment. (History has not supported this claim as Marxist societies have abysmal environmental records; e.g. the former Soviet Union). Thus far, the "green revolution" representing
advanced technology in food production has enabled food supplies to keep
ahead of population growth. (The horrible famines of recent in Africa
resulted from politics involving food distribution, not a shortage of food
supplies). Technology also has been used to develop cheap and effective
methods of birth control that can be used to control population growth.
Technology also increases the amount of damage that can be inflicted on the
environment-- nuclear power is the most often cited example.
Sociologists argue that "Social Organization" is a critical variable in this model. As previously mentioned, famine is just one social problem caused by politics, not a lack food. The use of birth control is another issue where a safe, effective technology exists, but politics determines whether or not a society will endorse it. The environment, itself, has become an intensely political issue-- if social groups do not resolve their differences regarding the environment our future prospects may be dim, indeed. Finally, it may appear that the environment is treated as the dependent variable in this model-- this is not necessarily the case. Major environmental changes will have a tremendous impact on all the remaining variables in the model. ("El Nino" is a very recent example of a global environmental condition that has had a very significant impact on human living conditions). For example, we are very close to knowing for certain whether or not a "green house" effect is already under way-- (the green house effect is currently regarded as a "political issue" by many of those holding power in our society). If such a phenomenon does occur, we are bound to see an intensification of efforts to counter its effects. (We've already placed restrictions on industrial emissions, automotive exhausts, coolants like freon, etc.) The former Soviet Union provides an example of how human engineering on a massive scale can disrupt the environment with diversion of water flow into the Aral Sea and the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl. |
|
http://www.dfd.dlr.de/app/land/aralsee/ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/678898.stm http://www.grida.no/aral/aralsea/english/arsea/arsea.htm |
