Hannam University - Green Mountain College

An Urban-Rural Cross-Cultural Web Dialogue

 

Topic: Industrial Pollution in Urban Environments

 

Introduction to Participants in the Dialogue: This web dialogue crosses cultures, but it also crosses the urban-rural divide: urban Daejon with rural Poultney. South Koreans over the age of 50 remember when their country was an agrarian society. The country has undergone rapid industrialization since the 1950s, often with heavy environmental costs. With a population of 1.5 million, the city of Daejon is struggling with problems associated with heavy industry, especially urban congestion, water pollution, and air pollution. Students of Urban Planning at Hannam University in Daejon are interested in new perspectives on these problems.

 

Industrialization in the United States has a longer history, beginning around the 1850s. Like South Korea, many parts of the United States continue to suffer from the environmental costs of heavy industrialization. The state of Vermont has the second lowest population in the United States (second to Wyoming). Its capital, Montpelier, is the only state capital in the country without a "McDonalds" restaurant, and most Vermonters are proud of this fact. With a population of 500,000, Vermont retains much of its agrarian heritage, and this rural quality has contributed to the popularity of the state's top industry: tourism. Poultney, Vermont, has a population of 2,000 (1/7500 the population of Daejon). Most Green Mountain students come to Poultney from other states, and some are from other countries. Three exchange students from Hannam University are currently enrolled at Green Mountain. Green Mountain students, including those taking "Environmental Ethics" during Fall 2005, tend to be attracted to the rural Vermont landscape of mountains and farmland. Many are interested in "escaping" from the congestion and pollution of cities.

 

Discussion: American author George Bradford makes the following controversial argument: 

• 1. Industrialization always results in heavy pollution.
  
• 2. Heavy pollution is morally unacceptable.
  
• 3. So, heavy pollution must be eliminated.
  
• 4. The only way to eliminate heavy pollution is to abandon industrial society.
  
• 5. Therefore, we should abandon industrial society and return to agrarian society.

 

Is industrial civilization hazardous to humans and nature? Does industrial civilization need to be abandoned in favor of returning to our agrarian past?

 

After reflecting carefully on pollution problems in your own country, discuss the following: What do you think? Is Bradford's recommendation realistic? All things considered, is his recommendation (to abandon industrial society) the best solution, or can we better solve the problems of heavy pollution through careful and responsible planning? What sort of society do you think he is envisioning? What would you have to give up in order to live in that society? Would you prefer to live in that society instead of the one in which you currently live? More importantly, would you prefer to live in that society instead of the one in which you could live in the future after careful and responsible urban planning?

Discussion questions:

1. We would like your response to the following questions from author George Bradford: 1. Is industrial civilization hazardous to humans and nature? 2.Does industrial civilization need to be abandoned in favor of returning to an agrarian past? Consider conditions in your own country: Is this realistic? Is this the best solution? Are there better ways to solve the problems of pollution through planning? What kind of society is being envisioned? What would you have to give up in order to live in that society? Would you prefer to live in the society Bradford envisions?