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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
PHUNG THI THU HA
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2015
BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY
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
Member
DR. FELIX M. PANOPIO
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
________________
Date
MATILDA H. DIMAANO, Ph.D.
Dean, Graduate Studies
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College of Arts and Sciences
ABSTRACT
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
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regard to environmental demands, social equity demands and economic
demands; the literary devices used by Gore in unveiling the theme of
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
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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.
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 sociov
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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
principle. The new Vietnamese students are certainly at hand, with literature
and thoughts intertwined through the identified literary advocate of the
environment.
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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
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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
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DEDICATION
To my ever dearest husband, Le Hong Thai and loving children, Le
Dinh Long and Le Ha Vy,
Phùng Thị Thu Hà
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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
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Synthesis ……………………………………………….
70
Theoretical Framework ……………………………….
74
Conceptual Framework ……………..………………..
79
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
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure
1
Title
Conceptual Paradigm of the Study
Page
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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
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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
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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
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climate change. During the last 50 years, its annual average surface
temperature has increased by approximately 0.5 - 0.7oC, while the sea level
along its coastline has risen by approximately 20 cm. The El-Nino and La-Nina
phenomena have caused increasingly adverse impacts to Vietnam. Climate
change has resulted in more severe and/or frequent occurrences of natural
disasters, specifically, cyclonic storms, floods and droughts becoming more
extreme in Vietnam. As a peninsula country located in the tropical monsoon
belt of Southeast Asia, it is one of the nations with a high potential of being
most negatively impacted by climate change. The country is already
experiencing changes in fundamental climatic elements as well as extreme
weather phenomena such as storms, heavy rains, and droughts (Institute of
Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment, 2009). Likewise,
it also faces many environmental problems related to land degradation, forest
degradation, loss of biodiversity, water pollution, air pollution, and solid waste
management, according to the State of Environment of Vietnam’s Website
(2014).
A significant increase in the average world temperature, according to
Kurukulasuriya and Robinson (2006), will lead to serious impact on the
environment. Climate change experts and researchers predict that this global
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warming will cause increased desertification rainfall in many areas and
increased desertification in others as well as the loss of ice cover in the Polar
Regions. It was also predicted that the average sea level will rise by up to
eighty-eight centimeters by the end of the twenty first century, posing a serious
threat to small island states and low-lying delta systems. They likewise,
averred that global warming will also have impact on floras and faunas.
Seasonal patterns will change leading to longer and hotter summers. Some
species will not be able to adapt well to this change of environment and may
slowly become extinct. The most serious consequence is likely to be the
impact on agriculture and thus food safety, especially due to increased water
shortages.
Moreover, while there have been some discussions over the degree to
which human-induced emissions have contributed to climate change, there is
now general consensus that concerted action needs to be taken to minimize
and mitigate the problems which global warming is starting to cause.
With reference to this, the objective of the 1992 United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) aims to discuss the
negative impact of climate change. The Convention’s stated objective it “to
stabilized greenhouse gas concentration at a level that allows ecosystems to
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adapt naturally to the climate change so that food production is not threatened,
while enabling the economic development to proceed in a sustainable
manner.”
To attain this end, the parties to the Convention are guided by principles
that reflect the awareness of global environmental responsibility, which were
discussed in detail in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development
and Agenda 21. These principles include inter-generational equity, the
precautionary approach, the right to sustainable development, and the
principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (Kurukulasuriya, and
Robinson, 2006).
Although environmental dreadful conditions and struggle for scarce
resources are potential sources for conflict, history has recurrently shown that
they are more often facilitators for cooperation. Problems of shared resources
regularly produced shared solutions. Humanity, in general, can share their full
and rightful support to peace and world stability.
This inconvenient truth has put the Planet Earth in its unbalanced state
and it has been reflected in many books, journals, magazines, newspapers,
documentaries and other kinds of literature.
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Taking note of the degree of similarity between literature and human
societies, readers are convinced that literature is not just a social construct
which is rooted in mere ideas, imaginations or imaginary situations. Rather, it
is a social institution and a form of tradition, which has existed for a long time
and is accepted as an essential component of a given society to perform
certain functions. Readers can view literature as a social reality, which portrays
the state of things as they are, rather than as they are imagined to be.
Premised on sociological approach to literary criticism, literature can be utilized
in working out national reconstruction being a tool that can motivate people to
co-operate with one another through information sharing and dissemination
(Ogundokun, 2014).
Arts, which literature is an essential part of, and the society which
produces it have tenacious association, which cannot be automatically
disconnected. The elements of fiction are found in non-fiction. Hence, no
literary work can be considered complete just because of its mere aesthetic
value and entertainment purposes. Literature generally is not closed,
independent or self-subsistent, he added. Indeed, there is a distinct
relationship between literature and the milieu or environment where and when
it was written with the aim of carrying out some germane functions like
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dissemination of information. It remains an instrument for positive social
changes. In a nutshell, it is a panacea for human peaceful co-existence and
sustainable developments.
As stated earlier, the Planet Earth is currently experiencing a climate
crisis and this harsh and hostile reality has drawn the profound attention of
many writers who concern themselves with ecological issues. One of those
writers is Albert Arnold Al Gore or Al Gore, the former Vice President of the
United States from 1993-2001. He is also one of the 2000 Democratic Party
presidential nominees and the co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. He has also been involved
with the environmental activist movement for a number of decades.
In 1992, the Earth in the Balance, Gore’s first book was published. This
became the first book written by a Senator to make it to the The New York
Times bestseller list since John F. Kennedy’s Profiles in Courage. The said
book was written during a turning point in his life when he decided not to push
through running into the White House and spend time for his son who was
then recovering from a near-fatal car accident and sharing his profound
thoughts and concerns about environmental issues with his readers in this
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