LABRST 4F03 - Work and the Environment

3 unit(s)

Who bears the cost of environmental degradation? How does our current economic system shape possibilities for environmental justice? Is there such a thing as working class environmentalism? And how do issues of environmental justice get taken up by trade unions? Struggles for environmental justice include everything from fighting against climate change and fighting for access to clean drinking water, to battles over health and safety in the workplace. In this course we will examine how social relations under capitalism shape our interactions with nature and create patterns of work and inequality. We will also explore the varied ways workers and workers’ organizations have responded to issues of environmental injustice.
Lectures and seminar discussion; one term
Prerequisite(s): One of GEOG 2EI3, 2LE3 and registration in Level IV of a Labour Studies program; or permission of the Director
Cross-list(s): GEOG 4LW3
Not open to students with credit in LABRST 3F03 if the topic was Labour and the Environment (per the 2009-2010 session.)