Introduction
The social order
consists of human interactions and behaviors that is formed in a common
environment. Hence individually or as a group| people
respect their environment.
But for a long
time for the sake of development and technological advancement| human has
converted his interaction towards nature in
a conflicting manner while human is being overpowered.
This concern regarding the environment and the
human – nature ties has its deep roots in human thought. The fast changes in
industrial world and urban developments at the beginning of the third
millennium is of a specific significance and priority.
Before 1980 the thinkers and programmers of
development focused their emphasis on the economic scope (dimension) of
development the result of which was unstable development and environmental
destruction specially among poor and underdeveloped countries. Since then
stability in development or said otherwise ecologically-green| pro-nature|
development which includes preservation of environment| become an important
article on the think thanks agenda.
The scope of this kind of development includes
environment| economic| social| cultural even political aspects| interrelation
of which constitutes the proper development process. Each of these dimensions
are essential to the process. While the cultural aspect is the foremost.
The cultural preview| opinion changes| values|
challenges| habitual course and behaviors require special consideration in this
regard. The first step in changing the mentioned cultural categories is to
recognize the current events and to realize our cultural stance.
This study has tried to describe the environmental
culture aspects of Isfahan
such as: Populations’ awareness regarding the issue| their insight regarding
the factors involved and their attitude about their surroundings.
Statement of the
problem
Today| the environmental issues are one of the hottest
on scientific and political agendas. The big risk that human faces today is the
environmental imbalance between human and nature| if continued at this pace|
non existence of human| is obvious.
Global population growth is considered to be the
main cause of this imbalance. The UN statistics office has foreed a global
population of 8|909|000|000 by 2050. Improper and uncontrolled rush of this
human influx to natural resources will cause an extensive environmental problem
globally| “99 percent of all natural resources known to men from its existence
on earth are extinct today”. (Ben Sen| 161| 2003). “Nowadays| because of
diversified human conduct 140 species| per day amounting to 50000 kinds are ruined
annually” as well as “Almost ¾ of pollutants flow into the worlds oceans”| an
outcome of human conduct on earth. Also “about 1/3 of oceanic pollution is
caused by air”| “today| polluted water causes at least 25 thousand deaths annually” (Sedough 36 : 2001). “About
half of the world’s population consumes fossil fuels (wood| manure| plant residues
like straw) for cooking and heating” (Dekoning| 1985).
“With each hamburger that we consume there is at
least 100 gr. of waste material involved which is hardly replaced in the environment”
(Jam – Jam| 13:2004). “The waste yield in Tehran
is 7000 tons per day” (Jam – Jam| 5:2004).“Carbon dioxide yield in Isfahan has increased 35
times in the last half century” (Ebtekar| 130:1991).
All of this figures indicate the dangers that the
environment faces due to improper utilization of resources by human. To prevail
the existing trend| we must change our attitudes and behavior concerning environment.
Environmental culture includes awareness| insight
and conduct. This study is aimed to determine these components while introducing the issue
to the people of Isfahan
as a sample for better planning| since this city| because of its historic|
social and industrial characteristics constitutes a good sample for the whole country.
The procedure
The procedure of this study is based on library
research and survey. Since in one hand|this study is of entra-field type (socio-ecological)|
a vast library research on ethnological issue was conducted in order to
increase the researcher’s knowledge about this study. On the other hand| the
social nature of this study motivated the figurative aspect of it.
Having in mind that the main objective of this
study in the first phase is the “acknowledgement” while the analytic aspect is
secondary| the study type is descriptive and has a unique time period (2004);
thus| the procedure applied can be considered as localized. Because the main
variables under study (i-e: awareness| insight| conduct or the environmental
culture as a whole) are related to certain independent aspects (i-e: age| gender|
etc.)| some statistical trials have been applied in order to examine the
hypothesized relation among them.
The Surroundings
and the environmental culture
The term environment is interpreted as: in it
semantic content (Arian pour Kashani| 332:1987)| total of external conditions
and their effect on life and evolution of beings (Banan|3:1972)| amplitude|
influence and effect on the conditions and situations (Cowre| 202:1978) and alike.
As for the term “subsistence”| the interpretations
such as: the necessities for ones existence like food| money (Cambridge|
463:1997)| life| lifetime and specified number of years (Moalem| 195:1987)| means
to survive which support life| earning ones livelihood| living domain and life
(Arian pour|1078:1987)| existence| being (Cambridge|878: 1997) in addition to
the above definitions similar definitions
are being used in dictionaries.
Therefore the expression "environment"
is composed of the definitions such as “surrounding” and “subsistence” hence we
can say that the term in its domestic and semantic content surrounds human and
his domain.
Generally speaking the sum of awareness| insight
and conduct of people in connection with their surroundings constitutes
environmental culture.
The environmental manifest is of three: natural
(encompassing that which is not made by man)| artificial (encompassing that
which is made by man)| and social (encompassing the society and what
constitutes it).
Polluted
environment and its polluting sources
Environmental pollution| if not treated
properly| can threaten and endanger human life. This issue has become an axiom
which needs a thorough deliberation at international and regional level.
Based on the presented definitions| environmental
pollution consists of “any kind of change in the components which constitute
our surroundings in a manner where the previous utilization becomes impossible
and these changes endangers life|
directly or indirectly” (Dabiri| 11:1996) and yet another definition
“undesirable changes in physical | chemical and biological properties of air| water and earth” (Miller|11/;1998).
Obviously these changes put the health| eternity and the function of mankind
with other living organisms at risk.
Biologically there are two groups of pollutants:
1- Decaying (Decomposable) : which can be broken
down| reused or completely destroyed.
There exists advanced delayed decay patterns:
a- Advanced decay occurs on
human| animal and plant waste|
b- Delayed decay occurs on
radioactive and DDT elements where they are either dispersed or completely
nullified.
2- Non-decaying: which can not be decomposed by
natural means such as mercury| lead| some of their alloys and some of plastics.
“Both decaying and non decaying elements| should
be kept away from air| water and soil to reduce environmental damage”
(Miller|12|13:1998) It should be mentioned that environmental pollution
consists of categories such as air| water| soil| sound| chemical| nuclear and|
thermal pollutants.
The essence of
environmental issue: global consideration| the record
Plato was the first who pursued and perceived the
essence of diversified ecology: that is| the principle of: the more diversity
in abundance | the better the world.
It is believed that according to Plato the reason
of decadence of Greece
was the annihilation of the forest and jungles| which caused soil erosion and
reduction in safe and secure water flow (Dasman|152:1935).
The first reaction towards the damages inflicted on
our inherited nature was observed among the nature lovers| hunters| athletics| hikers
and artists (Sharieh|255:1994).
A new movement began to evolve in different parts
of the world where the damage was feasible. United States of America was one of
this parts in the world in 19th century.
People become aware of such environmental changes
when they noticed the erosion of natural habitat caused by advanced
transportation and communicational systems. Sudden annihilation of buffalo herds| dense forests| which seemed
endless| draughts and tornadoes| made people realize the value of their natural
resources; then| people began to support any political movement which was
subject to environmental revival. The term “conservation” with its real meaning
was implied and government officials who where in charge of natural resource
management become more aware (Dasman 150:1976).
Of course the technology vs. environment proposal
had some prior background.
After WW2 rapid technical advances began to
threaten the environment in different ways.
In 1960s the importance of the issue brought about
a few factors (specially emotional) as follows:
1- The Atomic radiation and its
effects on nature in general|
2- The consumption of
decomposable agricultural plague/pest repellants|
which are declared as being a threat to nature|
3- The frightening series of
stories by Rachel Carson| specially the famous Silent Spring which shocked the
public|
4- The news about the urinate of
the biggest lake
of U.S.| lake Erie provoked
the environmentalists anger.
Fransis Sandbach| the author of “The rise and fall
of technological and environmental crisis discussed”| believes that since
(1972) the pessimism regarding environmental issues tled and the heat cooled
off. Many of the international| national| academic and research organizations
which were established to study the environmental phenomenon were either closed
or limited in their functions. Said otherwise| the issue had lost its essence.
During 1970 a conservative interpretation of the
issue and a logical approach replaced the previous extremist views.
The public pressure in industrial countries made
the governments to act upon the environmental issues. People asked for better
policies and appointment of knowledgeable ministers since pollution does not
recognize any boundaries. The issue was being discussed at international level(The
UN conference in Stockholm in 1977 was
a grate phenomenon) (King|46:1998). At the beginning of 1990| the whole
biophysical resources spectrum was subject to subsistence relief and an stable|
universal and positive development became a global objective.(Mirab|39:1997).
UN arranged the earth conference in RiodeGenaro in 1992. the UNCED (UN
Conference for Environmental Development) was the title which revealed the
instability between Environment and development and found that social|
economical environmental principle have close relation| and effect on one
another. Now we can say that preserving the environment is one of the greatest
issues occupying the minds of decision makers in this century.
The essence of
Environmental issue’s considered in Iran| the record
In the book “The municipal regulations” of old Iran
we read “… and the city servant should make the shop keepers to sweep their
domain and keep the market place free of all injurious waste … and prevent
slaughter in butcher shops since the pavement will be covered by blood| ‘Which
is detrimental to public heath and hygiene … and if these regulation are not
observed the city servant will be punished.” (Taghi Zadeh| cited from
Ghoreyshi| 15 and 121:1997).
In reference to environmental preservation| the
problem of environmental destruction and exploration on natural resources in
our country has not been any different from others in the world. The
environmental preservation in Iran
began in 1956 when an independent organization called “Hunters Society” was
established in order to control hunting| preserve game and prey generations
while supervising the related regulations.
In 1967 after the hunting and fishing decree was
ratified| the “Hunting and Fishing supervision office” replaced “Hunters
Society” and according to article 6 of the above decree the scope of work went
beyond the limits of supervision ution. Now it includes research on and
study of wildlife| nurturing the wild animals through habitat protection|
up wild animal parks and zoology.
In 1971| again the above mentioned office become
“Environmental Preservation Management” and high consuls of the previous office
were named “High consuls of environmental preservation” with more responsibility
towards the prevention of damaging causes which disturb the natures balance.
In 1974| following the Stockholm conferences
ratification of preservation and enhancement of environment with 21 articles|
the above mentioned management was equipped with new regulations to cover new dimensions
with proper programming and schedules (http: www.irnadoe.org).
After Islamic Revolution| according to Dr. Ebtekar
who had managed the organization for years| unfortunately at the beginning the
statesmen did not grasp the essence of environmental preservation
(Ebtekar|27:1997). But the official follow up of the issue produced the article
50 in Iran’s
1979 constitution. In fact this article has addressed the issue 12 years prior
to Rio conference (Ebtekar|29:1997).
Today we can claim that Iran is among the countries who
have environmental regulations. No country has accredited an article in this
regard in its constitution. (Ebtekar|74:2001).
The speculative
frame work and investigative hypothesis.
This study is focused on determining the
characteristics of environmental culture of Isfahan and its effective factors.
Accordingly we have studied and assessed resources that can provide data and
opinions on the subject. The acquired hypothesis can help us to identify and
assess the influencing factors. Therefore| some hypothetical sources have been
investigated| studied and assessed| while we have had some investigative
interviews prior to the research.
Why do people
think differently about preserving the environment ?
A – Environmental Awareness
“Lack of
knowledge “ is the most important factor. It is obvious that the risk
facing the environment is caused by human conduct| and experts believe that the
reason is concealed in peoples ignorant rather them their resourcefulness
(Radford 178:2002). It should be added that some research have been conducted
in this regard| too.
“Recognition of environmental awareness| insight
and behavior among U.S students”.
A study was conducted by state university of New Mexico
in 2003 in order to assess the public opinion on the issue. The objective was
to find out what the residents thought and whether consent existed among them?
(www.amsu|edu).
“Environment| according to European view”
An extended research with the above mentioned
title was conducted in 2004. The core question focused on the opinion they had|
with all their diversified citizenships (different countries)| about the main
causes of environmental pollution. (www.europa.eu)
“Environmental
insight assessed”
An extended research about environmental insight
and behavior was conducted in Scotland
in 2002. on a sample of 4000 people. The project was uted by the commission
of Natural Heritage and Forestry of
Scotland and a vast data was published. Check (www.scotland.gov.uk) for more detailed
information.
In Iran
we have conducted many studies regarding environmental and ecological issues
but not on the socio- cultural aspect of it. Studies like the one at hand are
few and the following is a sample:
- “Elementary school teacher’s occupied in
different regions of the capital city| Tehran:
awareness about environmental issues and its promotion methods assessed”
Badkoohi et
al(2000) conducted the mentioned research in the year 2000. This is a field
research and the study is of localized description nature. The findings briefly
are: the number of aware men is more than woman; almost half of the responders
had BA or BS| that means a direct relation between educational status and
awareness; respondents in experimental fields had a higher level of awareness compared
to other fields.
The common insight of the teachers regarding the
issue was almost positive with a hope for future improvement; they found that
lack of knowledge and information constitutes the problem we face today (Badkoohi|36-40:2000).
The following hypothesis have emerged from the
above studies:
Hypothesis (1 that the level of citizens’
awareness about environment differs
Hypothesis (1-1) that the more aware the citizens’
the more positive their insights about environment.
Hypothesis. (1-2) that the more aware the citizens’
the more desirable their behavior about environment
Hypothesis. (1-3) that the more positive the citizens’ insight the more
desirable their behavior about environment.
According to experimental studies conducted
previously| it seems that any educational system which does not follow
environmental awareness such as official education creates more insensitivity
among people regarding the environment. So the relation between the variable
education and educational field are assessed subject to environmental culture
issue.
Hypothesis 4 :
there is a significant relation between educational status and environmental
culture.
B –Being close to nature
Kay Millton| the famous anthropologist| suggests:
Refer to any holograph of renown and influential environmentalists| most
probably you will find their closeness to nature at least at the beginning of their
career. Millton has many testimonies to prove his suggestion and the most
important among them are the results of a study by Palmer at the beginning of
1990s conducted on environmental educators of England. They were asked to write
about their lives and describe the influencing factors which helped their
commitments and concerns to improve the environment.
Findings showed that 42 percent of respondents expressed their
childhood experiences in the outdoors| countryside| suburbs and open spaces. 49
percent had a direct contact with nature not necessarily in childhood| which
has influenced the shaping of their insight.
Similar studies have been conducted in other
countries and the results indicate that the childhood experiences in the nature
are vital in shaping the positive environmental insight.
The above mentioned issues made us to apply the
“close to nature” variable when we consider peoples environmental insight and
conduct.
Hypothesis 10:
There is a significant relation between being close to nature and environmental
conduct of people.
The
childhood experiences| the experiences resulting from living in natural and
open surroundings| the birth place are accounted for to be assessed while by
another hypothesis we have examined the relationship between the birth place
and environmental culture.
Hypothesis 6:
there exists a significant relation between birth place and environmental
culture.
Eco-feminism and
environment
Eco-feminism is a branch of feminism concerned
with environment which highlights the feminine gender in society and environment
(a negative view) (Beruy|161:2001).
Different branches of eco-feminism such as
spiritual believes| idealism and their resistance (something not discussed in
this study) each present their own specific analysis in relation to feminine suppression
and environmental decadence. Among these different types of eco-feminism| the
common element is the relation between this gender and the environment. Based
on the fact that naturally women are closer to nature than men| we came up with
the hypothesis based on the gender relation and environmental culture.
Hypothesis 2 :
There exists a significant relation between gender and environment culture.
C – The genetic epistemology and environment|
theory
- This theory was introduced by Piaje et al. Based
on this theory the power to conceive and moral commitment differs in age
groupings and it evolves gradually as time passes (Sharifi 25:1990). The
younger the population the less the moral commitment regarding common problems|
(In its surface the environmental issue is considered a common problem| hence
individual gain is minimal) which means lack of common sense and immature
conceivability. This breeds carelessness about environment| and it is hoped to
cure itself with age growth and change of pattern.
Another hypothesis has evolved based on the above
reasoning which will examine the relation between age and environmental conduct
and insight.
Hypothesis 3: There
exists a significant relation between age and environmental culture.
D - Being
environmental and native
According to exploratory researches which was
conducted prior to the study in addition to interviews we found that native
Isfahanians adore their city and are apt to preserve their cultural and natural
heritage.
Hence another hypothesis by which the relation
between being native and environmentally aware can be examined| was designed.
Hypothesis 7:
There is a significant relation between being indigenous and the environmental
culture.
E – Social strata
and environmental issues
Every society is made of different economic|
social and cultural ranks. The insight about common issues| naturally| can not
be alike among these ranks. The lower ranks due to situational discontent do
not care about social issues such as environmental; more over in some case their
insight is negative. This careless and negative mentality sometimes causes
damages to the public facilities and common resources.
The exploratory research showed that the reason
for this discontent which harms the social issues is the idea which the lower
rank of the society believes that the natural resources| public facilities|
specially the environment belong to the higher social ranks.Therefore| it seems
that the social environment regarding environmental issues are not grasped the
social ranks of a given society at the same level.Yet| another hypothesis to be
assessed and evaluated can be designed as follow:
Hypothesis 9: There is a significant relation between
social ranks and the environmental issues.
F . Profession
and environmental issues
Since profession is a major factor in evaluating
things| generating ideas and choices among people| while generate uniform thinking
patterns among trade unions and guilds| we thought a relation could be found in
this area.Now the hypothesis:
Hypothesis
8: There exists a significant relation between occupational categories and
environmental culture.
statistical analysis
The statistical population is from 12 regions of
the city consist of people aged 15 and
above. According to the Management and Planning office of Isfahan| the total population of the city
amounted to 1|479|735 in 2002.
Utilizing the kokran formula sample| the capacity
equaled 322 persons. For better accuracy we have increased it to 400. We
selected 4 regions out of 12 in the city: 3|6|7 and 9. Based on regional
population random sampling was conducted. A questionnaire with 34 question was
the testing tool.
Prioritization
The essential variables of this study and related
indicators are presented in the following table of priorities:
1- Ebtekar Taghi| (2000) “Energy consumption and climate change” Civil
engineering and technical press| vol. 2
2- Ebtekar Taghi| (2000) “Towards stability in consumption” vol. 7
3- Ebtekar Taghi| (1997) “Article 51| IRIS Constitution the scope”
Environmental periodical| vol. 45. 9th issue
4- Badkoobi| Ahmad etal.| (2000)” Vol. 33
5- Bari| Jan| (2001)| “The environment
and public opinion” Hassan Pouan| Nireh Tavakoli| Tehran| institute of environmental
preservation press
6- Bensen| Jan| (2003)| “Environmental morality” Mohamad Mehdi Rostemy
Shahroodi| Tehran|
7- Benan| Kholami| (1972) “Human surroundings and Pollution
prevention” Tehran|
Natural resources and human environment press
8-Jam-Jam| (2004)| “Pollution in Isfahan
has become six fold” Isfahan
special article
9- Jam-Jam| (2004)| “Zayande rood river must provide water for 10
million people in 10 years time’ Isfahan
special| article
10- Jam-Jam| (2004)| “The master key tabroud environment” 11- Dasman| Rof ( )| “Earth is in danger” Mahmood Behzad
Phd| Tehran| Pocket books Co. joint stock
12- Minoo Dabireh| (1996)| “Environmental pollution”| first print|
Tehran Etehad publication
13- Radford| Yan| (2002)| “Steadfast development indicators” Translation|
edition by Hadad| Mahram Nejad| Tehran|
Office of environmental preservation
publication
14- Sandbech| Fransis| (1985)| “ Technology and environmental crisis”|
A. Azarrang Tehran| Amir Kabir
publication
15- Sharie| Jan| Bernard| (1994)| “Cities and rural areas” S.Sahami
PhD| Mashad Nikan publication
16- M. Sharifi| (1992)| “Environmental progress in industrial
countries and its reflex on Iran”
vol.1 4th issue
17- M.B. Sodoogh| (1995)| “Poverty and environment” | Environment
periodical Vol. 2 7th issue
18- M.B.Sodoogh| (2001)| “The population| the environment| the future” vol. 34
19- M.A. Khorish| (1988) “Municipal order”| J. Shoar| Third print| Tehran scientific and
cultural publication
20- Lorts| Konrad| (1979)| “The civilized mans eight cins” M and F
Behzad Tehran| book of the time.
21- M Dariai| Nasrin| (2000)| “Global population growth and remained
resources” Environmental periodical| vol.
33
22- M Moalem| (1987)| “The New Farsi and French Dictionary” First
volume| Tehran Amir Kabir Publication
23- P. Mirabzadeh| (1994)| “ Steadfast development”| vol. 3. 6th issue 24- Key
Milton| (2003)| “ The kind nature headed towards a climate of sentiment” M.
Shahroodi| office of environmental preservation| publication
25- J.J Miller| (1998) “To live in the environment” M. Makhdoob| fifth
print Tehran|
university of Tehran publication
26- N. Hendi| (1997)| “The effects of chemical pollutants on human
specially women and children “
environmental periodical| vol.2 8th issue
27- M. Honari| (1983)| “The environment and development” vol. 3
28-
Cambridge (1997)| “International dictionary of
English” second publish| Cambridge
university press| 1997.
29- Cowie| A.P| lewis| (1978)“oxford
advanced learner’s dictionary of curreut English “| eighth impression| oxford
university press.
30- M. Horkheimer and T.w.Adorno| (1947)
“Dialectic of
Enlightenment”|
philosophical Evagments| Stanford
University press.
31- Picou| j.Steven | “Environmental
Attitudes and knowledge of Alabama Coastal Residents : A baseline for
developing sustainable coastal management strategies” www.southalabama.edu
32- Rhonda| Skaggs| “Positive Environmental Attitudes Dominate
in New mexico”www.nmsu.edu
33- Simmons.j| (1982)“The ecology of
natural resources”| Edward Arnold pub.
C:Internet sites
Some of the important web sits on the subject
34- Australian Bureau
of statistics ”Environmental Attitudes and practices ” www.abs.gov.au
35- “Survey on Environmental attitudes ”| www.scotland.gov.uk
36-| “Environmental
Attitudes of Youth”| www.nceet.edu
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http://
www.iucn.org
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http://
www.dep.state.ct.vs
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http:// www.unep.org
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iron.org
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http:// www.irandoe.org
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