Ecological concern and sustainability in the selected works of al gore

Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu – ĐHTN http://www.lrc.tnu.edu.vn

i

i

THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Socialist Republic of Vietnam Republic of the Philippines

ECOLOGICAL CONCERN AND SUSTAINABILITY

IN THE SELECTED WORKS OF AL GORE

A Dissertation

Presented to the

Faculty of the Graduate School

Batangas State University

Batangas City, Philippines

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for the Degree of

Doctor of Philosophy

Major in English

by

PHÙNG THI THU HA

2015

Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu – ĐHTN http://www.lrc.tnu.edu.vn

ii

ii

THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Socialist Republic of Vietnam Republic of the Philippines

APPROVAL SHEET

This dissertation entitled “ECOLOGICAL CONCERN AND

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE SELECTED WORKS OF AL GORE” prepared and

submitted by PHÙNG THỊ THU HÀ in partial fulfilment of the requirements for

the degree of Doctor of Philosophy major in English has been examined and is

recommended for Oral Examination.

MARIA LUISA A. VALDEZ, Ph.D.

Adviser

PANEL OF EXAMINERS

Approved by the Committee on Oral Examination with a grade of _______.

DR. MATILDA H. DIMAANO

Chairman

DR. AMADA G. BANAAG DR. FELIX M. PANOPIO

Member Member

DR. MYRNA G. SULIT

External Representative

Accepted and approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the

degree of Doctor of Philosophy major in English.

Comprehensive Examination: PASSED

________________ MATILDA H. DIMAANO, Ph.D.

Date Dean, Graduate Studies

College of Arts and Sciences

ABSTRACT

Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu – ĐHTN http://www.lrc.tnu.edu.vn

iii

iii

THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Socialist Republic of Vietnam Republic of the Philippines Title: ECOLOGICAL CONCERN AND SUSTAINABILITY

IN THE SELECTED WORKS OF AL GORE

Author: Phùng Thị Thu Hà

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Major: English

Year: 2015

Adviser: Maria Luisa A. Valdez, Ph.D.

Summary

This study analyzed the ecological concern and sustainability as

embodied in the selected literary pieces of Al Gore pointing out the events and

situations which show the teachings on ecological stewardship which may be

drawn from the analysis that may benefit the Vietnamese students. Likewise,

this paper tries to present the reflections of the author on the environment that

may be gleaned from the selections; the ecological concern reflected in the

works in terms of respecting Earth and life and all its diversity, safeguarding

Earth‟s regenerative capacities, caring for community life, and appreciating

Earth‟s beauty and bounty; sustainability manifested in the selections with

regard to environmental demands, social equity demands and economic

demands; the literary devices used by Gore in unveiling the theme of

Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu – ĐHTN http://www.lrc.tnu.edu.vn

iv

iv

THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Socialist Republic of Vietnam Republic of the Philippines ecological concern and sustainability; and the literary approaches prevalent in

the treatment of the selected works.

This study employed the qualitative method of research in analyzing

ecological concern and sustainability in the representative literary works

chosen. Likewise, this analysis made use of the sociological and philosophical

approaches as the bases for analysis. In particular, he these approaches were

supported by Ehrlich‟s and Raven‟s Society-Nature Coevolution Theory.

Likewise, the paper involved content analysis, which is a systematic

technique in analyzing message content and message handling. The data

analysis in this research centered on pattern seeking and the extraction of

meaning from Al Gore‟s selected literary narrative or image data.

The essential features in the treatment of materials were considered by

the researcher in the conduct of this study. The general rules cited by Stott

(2014) as regards the seven standards a piece of literature should abide to in

order to be considered literary guided in the selection of works under study.

The representative literary works of Al Gore entitled: Earth in the

Balance and The Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global

Warming and What We Can Do About It? were analyzed. These books

constituted the primary and twining sources of the study. The said selections

were chosen because of their correlation with the cited theme and subthemes.

Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu – ĐHTN http://www.lrc.tnu.edu.vn

v

v

THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Socialist Republic of Vietnam Republic of the Philippines Findings of the study revealed that Global waring is the greatest

environmental threat of the present time that is reflected in Al Gore‟s literary

works, Earth in the Balance and The Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary

Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It. Global

warming as a threat to health, communities, economy, and national security

was presented therein as a result of men‟s activities without consideration to

the effects to the environment. Environmental concern may be gleaned from

Gore‟s literary texts as manifested in his advocacy to protect the earth's vitality,

diversity, and beauty. To give deeper meanings on the concept of

environmentalism and a logical framework to his works through language as

well as to motivate the readers‟ imagination to visualize the characters, scenes

and situations more clearly, Gore employed various literary devices in the

selected literary pieces. Environmental sustainability is also manifested by

Gore‟s selected works as manifested in his advocacy to reconcile

environmental, social equity and economic demands of the society. The

representative literary works of Gore may be considered as a socio￾philosophical document showing the environmental issues of the times. Finally,

the Vietnamese students can glean teachings on ecological concern and

sustainability from the representative literary works of Gore and imbibe his

spirit and carry forward his legacy by practicing daily the pro-environment

Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu – ĐHTN http://www.lrc.tnu.edu.vn

vi

vi

THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Socialist Republic of Vietnam Republic of the Philippines principle. The new Vietnamese students are certainly at hand, with literature

and thoughts intertwined through the identified literary advocate of the

environment.

Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu – ĐHTN http://www.lrc.tnu.edu.vn

vii

vii

THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Socialist Republic of Vietnam Republic of the Philippines

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The researcher desires to express her thankful appreciation to those

who helped and inspired her towards the completion of this paper.

First and foremost, she wishes to thank the Thai Nguyen University and

the Batangas State University for giving her the opportunity to finish this

undertaking under their International Academic Cooperation Program.

Dr. Dang Kim Vui, the President of the Thai Nguyen University, Assoc.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tuan Anh, Assoc Prof. Dr. Dang Xuan Binh, Prof. Dr. Nguyen

The Hung, the former Directors of the TNU International Training and

Development Center, Dr. Hoang Thi Bich Thao, the current Director of TNU

ITDC, and Dr. Phan Quang The, the Dean of the Faculty of International

Training, Thai Nguyen University of Technology, for their motivation and

wisdom that helped hasten the completion of this study.

Dr. Maria Luisa A. Valdez, the Dean of Colleges and Head of the

Graduate School of the Batangas State University ARASOF Nasugbu

Campus, the researcher‟s dissertation adviser, for her constant

encouragement, commitment, and patience which motivated the researcher to

finish this study.

Dr. Matilda H. Dimaano, the Chairman of the Panel of Examiners, for her

Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu – ĐHTN http://www.lrc.tnu.edu.vn

viii

viii

THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Socialist Republic of Vietnam Republic of the Philippines thorough dissection and candid remarks that drew up the essential and

relevant dimensions in this research.

Dr. Amada G. Banaag, Dr. Felix M. Panopio, and Dr. Myrna G. Sulit, the

Members of the Panel of Examiners, for their valuable suggestions and

constructive criticism which motivated her to analyze conscientiously all the

inputs during the conduct of this study.

Dr. Remedios P. Magnaye, the Recording Secretary and Ms. Le Quynh

Anh, the ITDC Administrative Staff, for their words of encouragement and kind

gestures.

The authors whose works were included in this study, for their wisdom in

every page of this dissertation.

The researcher‟s friends, all of whom generously gave their time, advice,

and prayers. They made her realize the value of truth and friendship.

The researcher is also very grateful for the wholehearted support and

love that her parents, her husband, Le Hong Thai and children, Le Dinh

Long and Le Ha Vy, have extended during the writing process.

Phùng Thị Thu Hà

DEDICATION

Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu – ĐHTN http://www.lrc.tnu.edu.vn

ix

ix

THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Socialist Republic of Vietnam Republic of the Philippines

To my ever dearest husband, Le Hong Thai and loving children, Le

Dinh Long and Le Ha Vy,

Phùng Thị Thu Hà

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu – ĐHTN http://www.lrc.tnu.edu.vn

x

x

THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Socialist Republic of Vietnam Republic of the Philippines TITLE PAGE …………………………………………………..… i

APPROVAL SHEET ……………………………………………. ii

ABSTRACT ……………………………………………………… iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENT …………………………………………. vii

DEDICATION …………………………………………………… ix

TABLE OF CONTENTS ……………………………………….. x

LIST OF FIGURES ……………………………………………... xii

CHAPTER

I. THE PROBLEM

Introduction ………………………………………….….. 1

Statement of the Problem ………………………….…. 10

Scope, Delimitation and Limitation of the Study …... 12

Significance of the Study ……………………………… 15

II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Conceptual Literature ………………………………….. 18

Research Literature ………………………….…………. 59

Synthesis ………………………………………………. 70

Theoretical Framework ………………………………. 74

Conceptual Framework ……………..……………….. 79

Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu – ĐHTN http://www.lrc.tnu.edu.vn

xi

xi

THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Socialist Republic of Vietnam Republic of the Philippines Definition of Terms ……………………………………. 83

III. RESEARCH METHOD AND PROCEDURE

Research Methodology ………………………………. 88

Treatment of Materials ……………………………….. 89

IV. ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION……………….. 95

V. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary of Findings………………………………….. 312

Conclusions…………………………………………….. 324

Recommendations…………………………………….. 325

BIBLIOGRAPHY ………………………………………………………. 328

APPENDICES ............................................................................ 339

Summaries of the Selections ………………………………. 340

CURRICULUM VITAE ………………………………………………… 343

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Title Page

1 Conceptual Paradigm of the Study 82

Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu – ĐHTN http://www.lrc.tnu.edu.vn

xii

xii

THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Socialist Republic of Vietnam Republic of the Philippines

1

THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Socialist Republic of Vietnam Republic of the Philippines

CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM

Introduction

The world today faces considerable unparalleled environmental crises.

Declining of the Earth‟s environment gradually threatens the natural resource

base and processes whereupon all life on earth depends. Without resilient and

multifaceted action by all humanity, the environment may not be able to

sustain human life. Future generations may suffer scarcity and adversity

unless current patterns of production, consumption and waste management

intensely change. Moreover, the determination of balancing progress with the

Earth‟s support systems is being understood and acknowledged. Thus, it is but

timely for humanity to act upon this responsibility.

Cognizant of the fact that most environmental problems are

transboundary, regional or global in scope, it is but fitting for all countries and

their stakeholders to work together extensively and gradually to solve these

problems.

Aside from natural events, human activities are now recognized as a

contributory factor to climate change. During the recent years, scientists and

2

THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Socialist Republic of Vietnam Republic of the Philippines researchers have been able to gather evidences of changes in temperature,

rainfall and other weather variables.

Currently, global warming has turned out as an undisputed fact with

regards to livelihood. The planet is warming up and people are definitely part

of the problem. However, this is not the only environmental problem that

people should be concerned about. Worldwide, people face a huge number of

new and challenging environmental problems daily. Some of them are

insignificant and only affect a handful of ecosystems, but others are seriously

changing the landscape of what people already know.

Planet Earth is poised at the verge of a serious environmental crisis.

Present environmental problems make people susceptible to disasters and

tragedies. They are in a state of planetary emergency, with environmental

problems stacking up high around them. Unless they address the various

issues prudently and seriously they are surely doomed for disaster. There are

fifteen major current environmental problems, which include: pollution,

overpopulation, natural resource depletion, waste disposal, climate change,

loss of biodiversity, deforestation, ocean acidification, ozone layer depletion,

acid rain water pollution, urban sprawl, public health issues, and genetic

3

THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Socialist Republic of Vietnam Republic of the Philippines engineering and global warming. These current environmental problems

require urgent attention.

Sadly, the act of hauling people out of poverty and into the

technologically advanced world often comes at the expense of the local

environment. This is true to many countries but is explicitly serious in

Southeast Asian nations, as their economies especially the tourism sector

depend so fundamentally on untouched natural resources. Most of the

environmental issues in Southeast Asia are like air pollution, endangered

species conservation, deforestation, destruction of coral reefs, water security,

and increased urbanization beset this region. These are inseparably linked,

and working to upgrade one will often have added benefits or positive impact

to the others.

Global climate change, which is commonly known as global warming

and associated sea level rise, is one of the most serious challenges facing the

human beings in the 21st century. Natural disasters and extreme climatic

phenomena are increasing in number, affecting the lives of humans all across

the world.

Sharing the same situations is the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Vietnam is likely to be one of the several countries most adversely affected by