SCHOOL OF CIVIL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND GEOLOGICAL ENGINEERING

REFLECTION PAPER

ESE150-2/C1
(ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING)
3RD Quarter- School Year 2019-2020

Submitted by:
MAUYAO, DAVID KEITH D.

Submitted to:
ENGR. BONIFACIO MAGTIBAY
Professor

April 5, 2020
Pocahontas Movie

1. What is the ethical view of Pocahontas on the environment? How does it differ from the

British?

- In the film, Pocahontas is in connection with the ecofeminism viewpoint on the

environment. Pocahontas demonstrates how her role as a princess of color serves a greater

purpose to the relationship of women and nature. The argument of man overpowering

nature, animals, and women is clearly identified within Pocahontas through the male

characters’ destruction and ownership over land that does not belong to them. Moreover,

Pocahontas illustrate eco-critical views and themes of eco-feminism through the

embodiment of the connected world, human-animal relationships, and the equal treatment of

females and nature. In addition, elimination of patriarchal domination is clearly depicted in

the movie. It can be heard in the song, “Colors of the Wind”, wherein everything in nature is

living and has its own emotions, thus, destruction or disturbance in their natural order is

immoral and unethical.

2. Do you think Pocahontas' view promotes sustainable development? Defend your answer.

- Life is a web and not a hierarchy; within its multiplicity it is essential to have both healthy

ecosystems and healthy societies. We all are different, but no once difference is more vital

than another’s. Since our very differences are precious, all forms of oppressions are

unhealthy. On a philosophical level, this stand can be linked to the recognition of the basic

value of non-living life, of indigenous people, and of the integrity of minority cultures.

Ecofeminists argue for something parallel, like granting rights to nature as a step to end the

ecological crisis, it will not necessarily be the right first step for many communities. Because
 humans created the crisis through their actions, Ecofeminists argue that logically/rationally;

the healing must come from human actions as well. With this, it can be assimilated that

sustainable development can be equated to Pocahontas’ view on the environment,

ecofeminism.

3. What ethical view you would prefer to make Pocahontas' place more sustainable? Why?

- For me, I would not intervene with the viewpoint of Pocahontas towards the environment

since she justified in the movie the view’s essence and importance. Ecofeminism, like the

social movements it has emerged from, is both political involvement and intellectual analysis.

Bringing together feminism and ecology, ecofeminism argues that the domination of women

and the degradation of the environment are consequences of patriarchy and capitalism. Any

strategy to address one must consider its impact on the other so that women's equality should

not be achieved at the expense of worsening the environment, and neither should

environmental improvements be gained at the expense of women. Indeed, ecofeminism

proposes that only by reversing current values, thereby privileging care and cooperation over

more aggressive and dominating behaviors, can both society and environment benefit.

4. What is your personal ethical view that can be applied to the Philippines to make our

development sustainable? Explain your view. 

- The Philippines is primarily considered a newly industrialized country, which has an economy

in transition from one based on agriculture to one based more on services and manufacturing.

By far, the biggest negative effect of industrialization is on the environment. Pollution is the

most common by-product of industrialization. However, the degradation of ecological

systems, global warming, greenhouse gas emissions, and the adverse effect on human health

have garnered widespread concern. Because many industrialized companies are often not

forced to pay damages for the environmental harm they cause, they tend to impose a major

negative externality on human society in the form of deforestation, extinction of species,

widespread pollution, and excessive waste.

But, in the state of the Philippine environment, I think it is the population 's responsibility to

validate that the activities that are taking place are environmentally responsible and not

harmful to its people. In addition, it is extremely important to sustain the environment and its

natural resources for the future generations. Therefore, environmental stewardship is the

responsible use and protection of the natural resources and environment through conservation,

ecological, recycling, regeneration, and restoration practices. There are practices that are put

into place to increase the environmental stewardship, which include the efficiency of using

resources, reducing the waste, and providing an efficient and a healthy work environment.

Environmental stewardship is important for all our futures. It is worth remembering that no

country acts in isolation, and we all have an effect – and responsibility to protect – our

environment.