At the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima or Why Political Questions Are Not All Economic
How do you place a dollar value on something like the peacefulness of a forest, the gentle flow of a creek through a mountain pass, or the solitude of an open landscape? Can you? Environmental issues that involve the degradation of these landscapes are largely ignored. It has been decided that the cost of preserving such landscapes greatly outweighs the benefits that the land could be yielding to society in another form. Many of the decisions that companies and the legislative bodies make are based on what is most efficient and yields the largest number of benefits. The preservation of a landscape is often determined by the public’s willingness to pay for an unchanged environment, or their willingness to pay for the goods and services that may result from an industry established on that land. The government imposes regulations to control overexploitation of the land and ensure the safety of the public from the wastes that an industry may create. However, these regulations may impede the company’s ability to maximize efficiency and profit. Most regulations have minimal fines associated when they are broken, and thus companies can break the rules and still increase their profits after paying the fines.
It is difficult to perform a cost benefit analysis on the environment since there is no fixed dollar amount that can measure the costs and benefits associated with changes to the environment resulting from industrial development or when the environment is left unchanged. As a result, many people argue that the decisions made surrounding the preservation of the landscape should be based on value judgements that consider what is ethical, not on judgements that consider economical values such as wealth and efficiency. Altering a river’s course to provide water for irrigational purposes may result in larger profits for the farmer who can now grow more crops. However, if such a practice occurred, the environment surrounding the river will be greatly impacted and changed forever. Are the farmer’s profits worth the loss of life that would occur downstream from where the river was diverted? We have no means to measure this loss.
In a similar manner, decisions regarding the health and safety of the public should not be determined through economical judgements. Based on an economical approach, if the benefits associated with the production of goods or services exceed the costs associated with implementing practices to protect the workers, the company will endanger the workers as they strive for maximum profit. The amount of profit a company makes should not take precedence over the health of the workers who provide those goods and services.
In the corporation’s eyes, workers and the environment are simply commodities that can be bought and sold or discarded when no longer needed. Because people are not objects or things and since the environment consists of many different living things, commodifying either would be unethical. Life, which is preserved through good health and proper safety, has no price, and therefore can’t be considered in a cost benefit analysis when assessing the impacts associated with a corporation’s actions. A person is worth more than the labour that they can provide.
Furthermore, to endanger people through the exposure of toxic substances is the same as physically harming them. If a person walked up to another person on the street and stabbed him or her, the victim would suffer bodily harm or death and the person committing the assault would be classified a criminal according to the law. Corporations are not classified as criminals because their actions are not considered illegal, despite the number of people they affect. Laws often do not hold them responsible for their actions. More people are harmed through unsafe work places, indecent exposure to toxic chemicals, and malpractice than are murdered and physically assaulted on the streets. Since corporations greatly influence the politicians who make up the government through funding campaigns, governments hesitate to classify any corporations as criminals and risk losing the economic benefits to their countries or the funding they may require in the next campaign. Corporations will support the politicians that have the policies and regulations most favourable to their economic growth. Again, decisions made by the governments are based on economical judgements, and not the public’s well-being.
Reducing hazardous wastes, altering industrial practices to reduce their environmental impact, and seeking more environmentally sustainable products are issues that the public demand the government and corporations resolve. However, on an individual level, the person then becomes the consumer of the products that the company makes, often purchasing these products that harm the environment. For example, society complains that gas prices are too high and vehicles need to be made with greater gasoline efficiencies, yet these same people then buy SUV’s and 4X4 trucks.
Corporations argue that they only supply the goods that consumers wish to buy, often countering that consumers are the only ones who can decide what they spend their money on. Therefore, if consumers really have the power to control the actions of corporations through where they spend their money, why don’t they put their money where their mouth is? The main reason is that people are often irrational and constantly contradict themselves. Just like the company, they want to get the most out of what resources they have. People may argue that there are not enough environmentally sustainable products on the market, yet when presented with products that are environmentally friendly they often buy the generic brand because it is cheaper.
Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 166-71.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Selection 31
Living Downstream: An Ecologist Looks at Cancer and the Environment
In past decades the number of cancer patients has increased dramatically. Why are so many people suffering from a disease that very few people suffered from in the past? What causes cancer, and what can we do to prevent more cases from occurring? Steingraber was diagnosed with bladder cancer and members of her immediate family were also diagnosed with other forms of cancer. Though she points out that cancer is the result of cellular division gone awry, she also recognizes that the substances found in the environment in which people live plays a significant role in determining the type of cancer people get.
Our environments are filled with a variety of chemicals that can enter the human body through a variety of sources such as the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. The number of chemicals in our environments has increased since industries have begun creating and utilizing a number of synthetic chemicals in their products. Many of these chemicals have not been tested to identify the ecological problems they can cause when they enter the environment. Even more worrisome is the synergistic effect they might have when they mix with other toxic and synthetic materials. With this knowledge, why haven’t such substance been banned from industrial marketing and production?
It is true that the body is able to detoxify certain organic compounds. However, the body only has a certain number of cells programmed to create the enzymes necessary to break down unwanted and toxic substances that enter the body. These enzymes can easily be overwhelmed when a person is exposed to high concentrations of chemicals, thus causing mutations in the DNA of cells when they divide. Chemicals can resemble the enzymes that the body utilizes not only in division functions, but also in other functions such as the signalling and carrying out of messages between cells. As a result, DNA that is mutated can cause unnecessary growth because the proteins that are coded by the affected genes on the DNA are now coding for a different protein. Also, there are many new chemicals in the environment which our bodies have never been exposed too. For these chemicals, there are no specific detoxifying proteins in the body.
Since industries are aware of some of the effects that the chemicals they use in their products have, why doesn’t the government prevent the production and use of those chemicals? Many corporations hide the results from experiments to prevent the awareness of the negative effects their products may have on people. Because the public is not informed of these effects, little can be done when industrial wastes are disposed of in rivers, sewers, and landfill sites because no one has concrete evidence to support their claims should health effects arise. Disposal of the waste in public places further endangers human life and causes much suffering at the public’s expense while the corporation takes in the profit.
When scientists research the causes of cancer, they often look to heritable sources. However, it has been found that very few cancers are actually caused by inherited genes. Most cancers are caused by a variety of carcinogens which then cause certain genes to mutate. The carcinogens that cause certain forms of cancers have been identified by scientists, but since their research is funded by major corporations, they do not explicitly state which products these substances are located in or which company makes the products. If the researcher does find a correlation between a company’s products and a disease or illness found in society, the researcher would lose funding if the findings were presented to the public. When a company’s products are classified as unsafe, the consumer will not purchase them, and thus the corporation will lose its reputation and its profit.
Furthermore, since the government is supposed to be representing the good of the public, why haven’t any laws or regulations been enforced to reduce the chemicals that are contaminating the environment and negatively impacting all living organisms? The governments around the world are allowing corporations the power to harm people, often resulting in many deaths. This is a form of homicide. It may not be as quick a death as a gunshot wound, but the end result is inevitably the same. Also, since people are becoming more aware of the effects that certain chemicals have in the environment, it is a surprise to realize that no one is doing anything to stop the production and distribution of these substances. Direct connections have been made between certain chemicals and cancers that result when a person is exposed to the chemical, yet the chemicals are still present in the environment and still being used to make the products. Alternative substances need to be found for these chemicals and substituted into the production processes, even if the cost of production to the company may be slightly increased.
Lastly, people have the right to know what they are being exposed to in their environments, and they also have the right to know the effects that possibly may result. Work places are supposed to be safe, but safety is often disregarded so that companies can increase their profits as was noted in the previous article, “At the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima or Why Political Questions Are Not All Economic”. Children are supposed to be able to run in the fields and swim in the rivers without having to worry about what they may be exposed to in the air and water. In a sense, people have to recognize their ecological roots as well as their biological ones. The environment in which they live and grew up in has just as great an effect on their overall health and survival as their genetic make-up.
Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 157-61.
Related Links.....
CBC. Proposed Ont. Labelling law would target carcinogens. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2006/11/23/carcinogen-labels.html [2006 Nov 23]
CBC. Road salt may be hazardous to people’s health. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2000/01/19/salt000119.html [2000 Nov 11]
CBC. Toxic herbicide could still be on army base, scientist says. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2005/06/15/agent-purple050615.html [2005 Jun 15]
In past decades the number of cancer patients has increased dramatically. Why are so many people suffering from a disease that very few people suffered from in the past? What causes cancer, and what can we do to prevent more cases from occurring? Steingraber was diagnosed with bladder cancer and members of her immediate family were also diagnosed with other forms of cancer. Though she points out that cancer is the result of cellular division gone awry, she also recognizes that the substances found in the environment in which people live plays a significant role in determining the type of cancer people get.
Our environments are filled with a variety of chemicals that can enter the human body through a variety of sources such as the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. The number of chemicals in our environments has increased since industries have begun creating and utilizing a number of synthetic chemicals in their products. Many of these chemicals have not been tested to identify the ecological problems they can cause when they enter the environment. Even more worrisome is the synergistic effect they might have when they mix with other toxic and synthetic materials. With this knowledge, why haven’t such substance been banned from industrial marketing and production?
It is true that the body is able to detoxify certain organic compounds. However, the body only has a certain number of cells programmed to create the enzymes necessary to break down unwanted and toxic substances that enter the body. These enzymes can easily be overwhelmed when a person is exposed to high concentrations of chemicals, thus causing mutations in the DNA of cells when they divide. Chemicals can resemble the enzymes that the body utilizes not only in division functions, but also in other functions such as the signalling and carrying out of messages between cells. As a result, DNA that is mutated can cause unnecessary growth because the proteins that are coded by the affected genes on the DNA are now coding for a different protein. Also, there are many new chemicals in the environment which our bodies have never been exposed too. For these chemicals, there are no specific detoxifying proteins in the body.
Since industries are aware of some of the effects that the chemicals they use in their products have, why doesn’t the government prevent the production and use of those chemicals? Many corporations hide the results from experiments to prevent the awareness of the negative effects their products may have on people. Because the public is not informed of these effects, little can be done when industrial wastes are disposed of in rivers, sewers, and landfill sites because no one has concrete evidence to support their claims should health effects arise. Disposal of the waste in public places further endangers human life and causes much suffering at the public’s expense while the corporation takes in the profit.
When scientists research the causes of cancer, they often look to heritable sources. However, it has been found that very few cancers are actually caused by inherited genes. Most cancers are caused by a variety of carcinogens which then cause certain genes to mutate. The carcinogens that cause certain forms of cancers have been identified by scientists, but since their research is funded by major corporations, they do not explicitly state which products these substances are located in or which company makes the products. If the researcher does find a correlation between a company’s products and a disease or illness found in society, the researcher would lose funding if the findings were presented to the public. When a company’s products are classified as unsafe, the consumer will not purchase them, and thus the corporation will lose its reputation and its profit.
Furthermore, since the government is supposed to be representing the good of the public, why haven’t any laws or regulations been enforced to reduce the chemicals that are contaminating the environment and negatively impacting all living organisms? The governments around the world are allowing corporations the power to harm people, often resulting in many deaths. This is a form of homicide. It may not be as quick a death as a gunshot wound, but the end result is inevitably the same. Also, since people are becoming more aware of the effects that certain chemicals have in the environment, it is a surprise to realize that no one is doing anything to stop the production and distribution of these substances. Direct connections have been made between certain chemicals and cancers that result when a person is exposed to the chemical, yet the chemicals are still present in the environment and still being used to make the products. Alternative substances need to be found for these chemicals and substituted into the production processes, even if the cost of production to the company may be slightly increased.
Lastly, people have the right to know what they are being exposed to in their environments, and they also have the right to know the effects that possibly may result. Work places are supposed to be safe, but safety is often disregarded so that companies can increase their profits as was noted in the previous article, “At the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima or Why Political Questions Are Not All Economic”. Children are supposed to be able to run in the fields and swim in the rivers without having to worry about what they may be exposed to in the air and water. In a sense, people have to recognize their ecological roots as well as their biological ones. The environment in which they live and grew up in has just as great an effect on their overall health and survival as their genetic make-up.
Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 157-61.
Related Links.....
CBC. Proposed Ont. Labelling law would target carcinogens. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2006/11/23/carcinogen-labels.html [2006 Nov 23]
CBC. Road salt may be hazardous to people’s health. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2000/01/19/salt000119.html [2000 Nov 11]
CBC. Toxic herbicide could still be on army base, scientist says. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2005/06/15/agent-purple050615.html [2005 Jun 15]
Selection 10
Life and Death of the Salt Marsh
The ecological landscape of the eastern coast of North America largely consists of salt marshes. The expanse of green, consisting of grasses, marsh plants, and a variety of marsh organisms, forms the boundary between the land and the ocean. The grass roots prevent erosion of the shoreline from ocean tides and also provide many benefits to fisheries. Marshes provide the food and shelter necessary for young fish to survive. However, as the human population continues to increase and expand, many of the marshes along the coast are being destroyed. They are being filled in for developments or contaminated through the disposal of wastes. Hence, the once grass and salt scented air is now being replaced by the stench of rotting wastes and hydrogen sulphide. Hydrogen sulphide is commonly recognized by its rotten egg odour.
Many vulnerable ecosystems, such as those situated in regions between salt and freshwater, are being destroyed through urbanization and industrial developments. Marshes are being replaced with manufacturing warehouses and housing complexes. Because the governments wish to attract corporations to their states to improve economical growth, they do not often argue when a factory is built over a pre-existing marshland. Companies seek easy access to the ocean and its water so that its wastes can easily be diluted and transported. Also, some companies have productions processes that require large quantities of water, usually as a heating or cooling mechanism.
Though it is not possible to prevent all the negative impacts to marshes by human activities, some destruction can
be prevented through public awareness and preservation of coastal areas. In order for the ecological functions of marshes to be maintained, it is necessary to preserve as much of the marsh area along the coast as possible. This is a very difficult feat and will require everyone’s involvement.
Also, preservation needs to be implemented at a national level, not a state level. The entire coastal ecosystem is in jeopardy. Therefore, planning ways to manage the marshes and still allow for human access are in order. Roadways must be constructed to allow access for the people who wish to explore the unique characteristics of the marshes as well as to allow access to regions around and on the other side of marsh locations. No roadways would create further destruction because people will then venture wherever they please. Wastes also need to be managed more efficiently since improper disposal can contaminate and kill many organisms, both plants and animals, which have major roles in this water environment.
The battle between industrial developments and conservation of a fragile or vulnerable ecosystem will prevail as our profit-minded, market-oriented society continues to seek maximum growth and development of all the Earth’s resources. Many people should consider the benefits of preserving the marshes, such as continued shoreline protection, compared to the costs that will accumulate as a result of losing them. There are many industries that indirectly rely on them, such as fisheries and tourism. More awareness of this situation needs to be made public so that everyone can decide on the fate of the salt marshes.
Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 41-2.
Related Links...
Environment Canada. Salt marsh conservation and restoration. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.ns.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/salt_marsh/toc_e.html [2003 Jun 9]
Frankenberg D. Carolina environmental diversity explorations: a blackwater river from sea to source. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/cede_blackwaterriver/55 [1999]
The ecological landscape of the eastern coast of North America largely consists of salt marshes. The expanse of green, consisting of grasses, marsh plants, and a variety of marsh organisms, forms the boundary between the land and the ocean. The grass roots prevent erosion of the shoreline from ocean tides and also provide many benefits to fisheries. Marshes provide the food and shelter necessary for young fish to survive. However, as the human population continues to increase and expand, many of the marshes along the coast are being destroyed. They are being filled in for developments or contaminated through the disposal of wastes. Hence, the once grass and salt scented air is now being replaced by the stench of rotting wastes and hydrogen sulphide. Hydrogen sulphide is commonly recognized by its rotten egg odour.
Many vulnerable ecosystems, such as those situated in regions between salt and freshwater, are being destroyed through urbanization and industrial developments. Marshes are being replaced with manufacturing warehouses and housing complexes. Because the governments wish to attract corporations to their states to improve economical growth, they do not often argue when a factory is built over a pre-existing marshland. Companies seek easy access to the ocean and its water so that its wastes can easily be diluted and transported. Also, some companies have productions processes that require large quantities of water, usually as a heating or cooling mechanism.
Though it is not possible to prevent all the negative impacts to marshes by human activities, some destruction can
be prevented through public awareness and preservation of coastal areas. In order for the ecological functions of marshes to be maintained, it is necessary to preserve as much of the marsh area along the coast as possible. This is a very difficult feat and will require everyone’s involvement.Also, preservation needs to be implemented at a national level, not a state level. The entire coastal ecosystem is in jeopardy. Therefore, planning ways to manage the marshes and still allow for human access are in order. Roadways must be constructed to allow access for the people who wish to explore the unique characteristics of the marshes as well as to allow access to regions around and on the other side of marsh locations. No roadways would create further destruction because people will then venture wherever they please. Wastes also need to be managed more efficiently since improper disposal can contaminate and kill many organisms, both plants and animals, which have major roles in this water environment.
The battle between industrial developments and conservation of a fragile or vulnerable ecosystem will prevail as our profit-minded, market-oriented society continues to seek maximum growth and development of all the Earth’s resources. Many people should consider the benefits of preserving the marshes, such as continued shoreline protection, compared to the costs that will accumulate as a result of losing them. There are many industries that indirectly rely on them, such as fisheries and tourism. More awareness of this situation needs to be made public so that everyone can decide on the fate of the salt marshes.
Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 41-2.
Related Links...
Environment Canada. Salt marsh conservation and restoration. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.ns.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/salt_marsh/toc_e.html [2003 Jun 9]
Frankenberg D. Carolina environmental diversity explorations: a blackwater river from sea to source. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/cede_blackwaterriver/55 [1999]
Selection 20
Impacts of Biodiversity Loss on Ocean Ecosystem Services
Oceans make up a large proportion of our planet. Since they are so grand, they also offer numerous services, such as food production, to the human population as well as to other organisms. Human activities, such as overexploitation of fish species through large fishing practices, destruction of vulnerable marine ecosystems such as coral reefs and sal
t marshes from human development and pollution, as well as the mere human presence have led to a severe decline in the biodiversity of marine environments. Biodiversity, as observed through experimentation, has been shown to increase the productivity, efficiency, and stability of ecological systems. The more species present in a given location, the more ecological functions that can be performed, and thus the more benefits received from all species that utilize and live in this system.
Because of our dependence on ocean fish species for economic livelihood and food, people are starting to become concerned as fishing industries collapse because the fish populations that they depend on are showing significant declines in abundance. As fish populations decline, so do the abundances of the organisms that interact and possibly feed on these same fish species. All the components of a system are interdependent. Therefore, when one component, in this case fish, shows large changes, the other components, such as algae and zooplankton populations, will change as well.
Furthermore, people continue to move closer to the oceans, building water-front homes and encroaching on the marine environment. Local, regional, and global scale losses have been noted in species diversity, and hence economic losses have arisen. Also, when there is a loss in biodiversity of a system, the amount of variability in abundances of species’ populations greatly increases, thus causing a decrease in the stability of the system. A decrease in stability increases the risk of populations collapsing which can lead to extinction of the species that are most vulnerable. Increased biodiversity not only reduces the risk of the community collapsing in the future, but also increases the community’s ability to recover from natural disturbances and ecosystem changes brought on by climate change and an evolving landscape.
Tourism is a large economic business in many coastal communities. When the abundance of species decreases and ocean waters become filled with pollution, the overall water quality of the area decreases. Filter and suspension feeders are able to remove the suspended organic compounds that cause a decrease in water clarity, thus improving the overall water quality. Hence, when these organisms are removed, water quality decreases and people are less attracted to such locations for vacations. Therefore, it is no longer the economic industries and environmental systems that are suffering, but societal well-being as well. Reserves and sustainable management of oceanic environments has led to considerable recovery in some species, and thus increased tourism.
We must keep in mind too, that biodiversity and preservation of species richness can be applied to terrestrial ecosystems too. Human activities have greatly altered the prairies through increased agricultural practices and forested areas because of the large quantities of trees harvested. As a result of such activities, there are many organisms that are being lost, many of which are unidentified. Therefore, the true value of what we are losing is greatly unknown. Plants and animals alike have a great genetic diversity. Researchers are continuously finding plants and animals that can provide many benefits to the human population such as alternative food sources or natural compounds that can be used to make medications.
Currently, many people have not recognized the enormity of a loss of biodiversity, or the fact that the majority of our fisheries could collapse by the end of the century. On a global scale, a significant number of species, and the services that they provide, are continually being lost. This loss will not only affect people, but also a large number of organisms that depend on these species through direct and indirect interactions in the community.
Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 91-4.
Related Links....
Shah A. Global issues: loss of biodiversity and extinctions. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.globalissues.org/article/171/loss-of-biodiversity-and-extinctions [2009 Nov 18]
GreenFacts. Scientific facts on biodiversity and human well-being. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.greenfacts.org/en/biodiversity/ [2009 Sep 10]
CBC. Canadian sport fishing stocks collapsing. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2002/02/12/fish020212.html [2002 Feb 12]
Great Green Gadgets. The widening gyre of plastic pollution in the ocean. [Online]. Avail from: http://greatgreengadgets.com/gadgets/2009/02/16/the-widening-gyre-of-plastic-pollution-in-the-ocean/ [2009 Feb 16]
Oceans make up a large proportion of our planet. Since they are so grand, they also offer numerous services, such as food production, to the human population as well as to other organisms. Human activities, such as overexploitation of fish species through large fishing practices, destruction of vulnerable marine ecosystems such as coral reefs and sal
t marshes from human development and pollution, as well as the mere human presence have led to a severe decline in the biodiversity of marine environments. Biodiversity, as observed through experimentation, has been shown to increase the productivity, efficiency, and stability of ecological systems. The more species present in a given location, the more ecological functions that can be performed, and thus the more benefits received from all species that utilize and live in this system.Because of our dependence on ocean fish species for economic livelihood and food, people are starting to become concerned as fishing industries collapse because the fish populations that they depend on are showing significant declines in abundance. As fish populations decline, so do the abundances of the organisms that interact and possibly feed on these same fish species. All the components of a system are interdependent. Therefore, when one component, in this case fish, shows large changes, the other components, such as algae and zooplankton populations, will change as well.
Furthermore, people continue to move closer to the oceans, building water-front homes and encroaching on the marine environment. Local, regional, and global scale losses have been noted in species diversity, and hence economic losses have arisen. Also, when there is a loss in biodiversity of a system, the amount of variability in abundances of species’ populations greatly increases, thus causing a decrease in the stability of the system. A decrease in stability increases the risk of populations collapsing which can lead to extinction of the species that are most vulnerable. Increased biodiversity not only reduces the risk of the community collapsing in the future, but also increases the community’s ability to recover from natural disturbances and ecosystem changes brought on by climate change and an evolving landscape.
Tourism is a large economic business in many coastal communities. When the abundance of species decreases and ocean waters become filled with pollution, the overall water quality of the area decreases. Filter and suspension feeders are able to remove the suspended organic compounds that cause a decrease in water clarity, thus improving the overall water quality. Hence, when these organisms are removed, water quality decreases and people are less attracted to such locations for vacations. Therefore, it is no longer the economic industries and environmental systems that are suffering, but societal well-being as well. Reserves and sustainable management of oceanic environments has led to considerable recovery in some species, and thus increased tourism.
We must keep in mind too, that biodiversity and preservation of species richness can be applied to terrestrial ecosystems too. Human activities have greatly altered the prairies through increased agricultural practices and forested areas because of the large quantities of trees harvested. As a result of such activities, there are many organisms that are being lost, many of which are unidentified. Therefore, the true value of what we are losing is greatly unknown. Plants and animals alike have a great genetic diversity. Researchers are continuously finding plants and animals that can provide many benefits to the human population such as alternative food sources or natural compounds that can be used to make medications.
Currently, many people have not recognized the enormity of a loss of biodiversity, or the fact that the majority of our fisheries could collapse by the end of the century. On a global scale, a significant number of species, and the services that they provide, are continually being lost. This loss will not only affect people, but also a large number of organisms that depend on these species through direct and indirect interactions in the community.
Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 91-4.
Related Links....
Shah A. Global issues: loss of biodiversity and extinctions. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.globalissues.org/article/171/loss-of-biodiversity-and-extinctions [2009 Nov 18]
GreenFacts. Scientific facts on biodiversity and human well-being. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.greenfacts.org/en/biodiversity/ [2009 Sep 10]
CBC. Canadian sport fishing stocks collapsing. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2002/02/12/fish020212.html [2002 Feb 12]
Great Green Gadgets. The widening gyre of plastic pollution in the ocean. [Online]. Avail from: http://greatgreengadgets.com/gadgets/2009/02/16/the-widening-gyre-of-plastic-pollution-in-the-ocean/ [2009 Feb 16]
In Class Discussion
Are Diamonds Worth It?
In short, NO. Diamonds may be pretty to look at, and nice to own, but when it comes down to the means of acquiring such a precious stone, the costs are too great. Diamonds are found in select locations, specifically near pre-existing volcanoes. Diamonds are created when magma reaches a specific temperature and pressure. Some extinct volcanoes are merely depressions left in the Earth's crust, such as those volcanoes found in the Canadian Arctic, and lakes or ponds have formed over top. As result, to get to the diamonds large amounts of water must be drained and the many species that lived in that lake displaced. In the Arctic, displacing organisms greatly impacts this already fragile ecosystem. The loss of life and degradation to the landscape imposes a large cost on the environment. Minerals and rocks from deep within the Earth’s crust are brought to the surface and can contaminate the surrounding region.
When diamonds are mined in Africa, the proceeds go to tyrannical governments and terrorist groups, not to the people in the country who mined them. Thus, the people in countries like Africa are living in poverty with barely enough to survive. If, by chance, a person got caught extracting the diamonds for themselves or re
-mining areas that had already been mined to find any diamonds that were left behind, he or she would be maimed or killed by the government. Therefore, the movie created to show diamond extraction processes in Africa was aptly named when they called it Blood Diamond.
Furthermore, large quantities of resources, such as water and energy, are necessary in the extraction process. Machines powered by combustion engines are required in the Arctic, and thus the emissions from such machines will further pollute the landscape. Large quantities of water are also required.
Therefore, each diamond has a story that is not depicted by its shiny surface. Companies that sell diamonds make women believe that they have to have them in their engagement rings, wedding bands, and other items of jewellery. Because of such a portrayal, women demand these stones without realizing where the diamond came from or the turmoil people may suffer to extract them.
In light of the environmental and human losses that occur for a small chunk of stone, I would not go out and purchase one myself. That isn’t to say that if given one I would not accept it. The costs associated with acquiring that diamond far outweigh the benefits and other gemstones can be retrieved in a lot more environmentally sustainable ways and look just as beautiful.
Related Links...
United Nations. Conflict diamonds: sanctions and war. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.un.org/peace/africa/Diamond.html [2001 Mar 21]
BusinessWeek. Green marketing: diamond quality. [Online]. Avail from: http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/10/diamond_seller/source/2.htm
Who Killed the Electric Car?
Electric cars were first created in the 1920’s, and yet there does not currently appear to be anyone driving them. Why have they disappeared? With gas and oil reserves greatly decreasing as countries demand greater quantities as energy resources, a person would surmise that such vehicles would be highly promoted as an alternative form of transportation.
Car manufacturing companies promote combustion powered vehicles because of the influence they receive from their shareholders, the oil and gas companies. If a car manufacturing company were to create an electric vehicle and put it on the market for its consumers, then business would be taken away from the oil and gas companies since the vehicles being sold would no longer require oil and gas products. Since all industries are dependent on gas and oil companies for the energy resources that they provide, gas and oil companies hold a lot of power over what companies decide to create and produce.
In California, an electric car, called the EV1, was created to allow consumers to cut back on their gasoline expenditures and reduce the effects that combustion engines have on air pollution. Green house gases, such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and sulphur dioxide that are produced from the burning of fossil fuels, have greatly altered the composition of our atmosphere. Increased global heating and smog have become frequent words in the media and the ecosystems around us are forced to adapt and change with the increased temperatures. Smog has become a great concern because many people are now experiencing respiratory problems and other side-effects to their health. As a result, it made sense to create a vehicle that does not pollute the air we breathe. Though such a car was created, it was never intended to be made a selling item. Therefore was not advertised and later removed from the market. Companies can claim that the electric car was never demanded by the consumer, but the real truth is the oil and gas companies did not like the threat it posed to their profits.
In short, NO. Diamonds may be pretty to look at, and nice to own, but when it comes down to the means of acquiring such a precious stone, the costs are too great. Diamonds are found in select locations, specifically near pre-existing volcanoes. Diamonds are created when magma reaches a specific temperature and pressure. Some extinct volcanoes are merely depressions left in the Earth's crust, such as those volcanoes found in the Canadian Arctic, and lakes or ponds have formed over top. As result, to get to the diamonds large amounts of water must be drained and the many species that lived in that lake displaced. In the Arctic, displacing organisms greatly impacts this already fragile ecosystem. The loss of life and degradation to the landscape imposes a large cost on the environment. Minerals and rocks from deep within the Earth’s crust are brought to the surface and can contaminate the surrounding region.
When diamonds are mined in Africa, the proceeds go to tyrannical governments and terrorist groups, not to the people in the country who mined them. Thus, the people in countries like Africa are living in poverty with barely enough to survive. If, by chance, a person got caught extracting the diamonds for themselves or re
-mining areas that had already been mined to find any diamonds that were left behind, he or she would be maimed or killed by the government. Therefore, the movie created to show diamond extraction processes in Africa was aptly named when they called it Blood Diamond.Furthermore, large quantities of resources, such as water and energy, are necessary in the extraction process. Machines powered by combustion engines are required in the Arctic, and thus the emissions from such machines will further pollute the landscape. Large quantities of water are also required.
Therefore, each diamond has a story that is not depicted by its shiny surface. Companies that sell diamonds make women believe that they have to have them in their engagement rings, wedding bands, and other items of jewellery. Because of such a portrayal, women demand these stones without realizing where the diamond came from or the turmoil people may suffer to extract them.
In light of the environmental and human losses that occur for a small chunk of stone, I would not go out and purchase one myself. That isn’t to say that if given one I would not accept it. The costs associated with acquiring that diamond far outweigh the benefits and other gemstones can be retrieved in a lot more environmentally sustainable ways and look just as beautiful.
Related Links...
United Nations. Conflict diamonds: sanctions and war. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.un.org/peace/africa/Diamond.html [2001 Mar 21]
BusinessWeek. Green marketing: diamond quality. [Online]. Avail from: http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/10/diamond_seller/source/2.htm
Who Killed the Electric Car?
Electric cars were first created in the 1920’s, and yet there does not currently appear to be anyone driving them. Why have they disappeared? With gas and oil reserves greatly decreasing as countries demand greater quantities as energy resources, a person would surmise that such vehicles would be highly promoted as an alternative form of transportation.
Car manufacturing companies promote combustion powered vehicles because of the influence they receive from their shareholders, the oil and gas companies. If a car manufacturing company were to create an electric vehicle and put it on the market for its consumers, then business would be taken away from the oil and gas companies since the vehicles being sold would no longer require oil and gas products. Since all industries are dependent on gas and oil companies for the energy resources that they provide, gas and oil companies hold a lot of power over what companies decide to create and produce.
In California, an electric car, called the EV1, was created to allow consumers to cut back on their gasoline expenditures and reduce the effects that combustion engines have on air pollution. Green house gases, such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and sulphur dioxide that are produced from the burning of fossil fuels, have greatly altered the composition of our atmosphere. Increased global heating and smog have become frequent words in the media and the ecosystems around us are forced to adapt and change with the increased temperatures. Smog has become a great concern because many people are now experiencing respiratory problems and other side-effects to their health. As a result, it made sense to create a vehicle that does not pollute the air we breathe. Though such a car was created, it was never intended to be made a selling item. Therefore was not advertised and later removed from the market. Companies can claim that the electric car was never demanded by the consumer, but the real truth is the oil and gas companies did not like the threat it posed to their profits.
Online Activity
eDump
Have you ever considered where the electronic wastes that are thrown out eventually end up? Sadly, the majority of our electronic wastes, often called e-wastes, are imported overseas to developing nations. China, India, and Thailand are just a few of the countries who deal with the e-wastes of developed nations. Once in developing nations, the computers, TVs, and other electronic devices are broken down into their component parts and these parts are sorted, recycled, and re-sold or thrown away. E-wastes contain large quantities of hazardous materials-a danger to the environment and people. As a result, regulations have been implemented to control the shipments of e-wastes from industrialized to developing nations. All industrialized countries, with the exception of the United States, have signed onto the Basel Convention, a convention which states that it is illegal to import e-wastes without permission to areas outside their borders. However, the wastes that have already accumulated in large quantities in developing nations have caused serious damage to the environment and have greatly affected the health of the people.
Large corporations need to take responsibility and decrease the number of toxic substances they utilize in the manufacturing of their products. Environmentally safe chemicals have been found for some of the substances, thus reducing the amounts of lead, mercury, antimony, cadmium, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) which can cause significant amounts of harm to people and the environment. The public and market competitors have increased the pressure on major corporations to find alternative chemicals for their products, thus decreasing the number of companies that still use toxic chemicals in their production processes. However, more pressure for change is still needed.
The government is often in charge of regulating and ensuring that corporations follow the laws regarding proper disposal of waste and protecting the environment. However, because of the power that many corporations have over the political groups in the international economic world, governments often hesitate to impose harsh regulations and policies for fear that the corporations will move their companies to other countries with fewer regulations. It is more economically beneficial for American companies to ship their electronic wastes to developing nations. The people in developing nations are willing to work long hours completing monotonous task for little pay. Many companies do not care whether or not their actions are unethical.
People employed in the e-waste business are constantly exposed to toxic chemicals. Poor ventilation and improper safety protection, or often no protection at all, leaves the people in this business inhaling and handling a large amount of toxic substances. Most people work from their homes, literally turning them into factories and warehouses for electronic wastes. As a result, young children are exposed too because they cannot escape the smoky air or the large piles of wastes since their homes and their surrounding community are filled with the piles of metals and plastics that make up the industry. Since there are no other jobs available to these people, they continue to work in unhealthy and possibly lethal conditions to gain what little money they can to provide for their families.
TV’s, computers, cell phones, MP3 players and many other devices are bought and discarded with little thought by the consumer as to where they end up. The life cycle of an electronic device needs to be increased so that they are not discarded as frequently. Also, electronic products need to be made more from recycled materials or in ways that allow people to update their product so that they do not have to throw it away and buy a new one each time an new version becomes available on the market. Consumer demand for products made of recycled materials would force companies to alter their production processes to incorporate more environmentally friendly and recycled materials into their products if they wish to continue selling them. However, since many people are unaware of what happens to electronic wastes, one of the first areas that need to be addressed is educating the public on their electronic device footprints as well as providing suggestions for ways to reduce this footprint.
Zhao M. eDump. From Babelgum [Online]. Avail from: http://www.babelgum.com/118286/edump.html
[2007 Dec]
Related Links...
Basel Convention. Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wases and their disposal. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/environ/pbde-eng.php
Health Canada. PBDE flame retardants and human health. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/environ/pbde-eng.php
[2009 Sep 3]
Have you ever considered where the electronic wastes that are thrown out eventually end up? Sadly, the majority of our electronic wastes, often called e-wastes, are imported overseas to developing nations. China, India, and Thailand are just a few of the countries who deal with the e-wastes of developed nations. Once in developing nations, the computers, TVs, and other electronic devices are broken down into their component parts and these parts are sorted, recycled, and re-sold or thrown away. E-wastes contain large quantities of hazardous materials-a danger to the environment and people. As a result, regulations have been implemented to control the shipments of e-wastes from industrialized to developing nations. All industrialized countries, with the exception of the United States, have signed onto the Basel Convention, a convention which states that it is illegal to import e-wastes without permission to areas outside their borders. However, the wastes that have already accumulated in large quantities in developing nations have caused serious damage to the environment and have greatly affected the health of the people.
Large corporations need to take responsibility and decrease the number of toxic substances they utilize in the manufacturing of their products. Environmentally safe chemicals have been found for some of the substances, thus reducing the amounts of lead, mercury, antimony, cadmium, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) which can cause significant amounts of harm to people and the environment. The public and market competitors have increased the pressure on major corporations to find alternative chemicals for their products, thus decreasing the number of companies that still use toxic chemicals in their production processes. However, more pressure for change is still needed.
The government is often in charge of regulating and ensuring that corporations follow the laws regarding proper disposal of waste and protecting the environment. However, because of the power that many corporations have over the political groups in the international economic world, governments often hesitate to impose harsh regulations and policies for fear that the corporations will move their companies to other countries with fewer regulations. It is more economically beneficial for American companies to ship their electronic wastes to developing nations. The people in developing nations are willing to work long hours completing monotonous task for little pay. Many companies do not care whether or not their actions are unethical.
People employed in the e-waste business are constantly exposed to toxic chemicals. Poor ventilation and improper safety protection, or often no protection at all, leaves the people in this business inhaling and handling a large amount of toxic substances. Most people work from their homes, literally turning them into factories and warehouses for electronic wastes. As a result, young children are exposed too because they cannot escape the smoky air or the large piles of wastes since their homes and their surrounding community are filled with the piles of metals and plastics that make up the industry. Since there are no other jobs available to these people, they continue to work in unhealthy and possibly lethal conditions to gain what little money they can to provide for their families.
TV’s, computers, cell phones, MP3 players and many other devices are bought and discarded with little thought by the consumer as to where they end up. The life cycle of an electronic device needs to be increased so that they are not discarded as frequently. Also, electronic products need to be made more from recycled materials or in ways that allow people to update their product so that they do not have to throw it away and buy a new one each time an new version becomes available on the market. Consumer demand for products made of recycled materials would force companies to alter their production processes to incorporate more environmentally friendly and recycled materials into their products if they wish to continue selling them. However, since many people are unaware of what happens to electronic wastes, one of the first areas that need to be addressed is educating the public on their electronic device footprints as well as providing suggestions for ways to reduce this footprint.
Zhao M. eDump. From Babelgum [Online]. Avail from: http://www.babelgum.com/118286/edump.html
[2007 Dec]
Related Links...
Basel Convention. Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wases and their disposal. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/environ/pbde-eng.php
Health Canada. PBDE flame retardants and human health. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/environ/pbde-eng.php
[2009 Sep 3]
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Selection 39
Towards Sustainable Development
According to the World Commission on Environment and Development, one of the main concepts associated with sustainable development is meeting the needs, such as food, shelter, and physical aspirations, of our society. Currently, because of a lack of social equality, the needs of the people are not being met. Poverty can be seen in both developed and developing nations. In order to eradicate poverty there needs to be an increase in the growth of goods and services. However, such an increase must be followed by a greater and more equal distribution of these resources. Also, since our environment is our life support system, the companies who extract resources must ensure that overexploitation does not occur so that peoples’ needs can continue to be met in the future.
Part of the issue surrounding unsustainable exploitation of our resources stems from individual and corporate pursuit for profit. Our economy is based on a market system, and therefore considerations of the impacts to the environment are often ignored in light of the potential revenues that can be made from further resource extraction. Therefore, it is suggested that environmental considerations need to become mandated or integrated into all decision-making and planning processes. Institutional development, law enforcement, and educational facilities need to convey this message to the public so that economic pursuits and ecological sustainability can be united and hence benefit everyone.
Balancing the economy, the environment, and social needs is very difficult and seldom achieved. In order to satisfy the ecological needs on our environment, a compromise must be met in the economy. Since society’s welfare is dependent on the economy, the ability to meet our social needs is also affected. However, it must be realized that no matter how careful a company can be in extracting resources from the environment, the environment is going to be impacted in some way. Since some changes are inevitable, we will have to find ways to reduce the impacts of these changes.
Advances in technology can often help reduce the impacts on the environment. Innovations in creating more sustainable, eco-friendly buildings has reduced the energy usage and wastes that some companies produce when manufacturing products. However, the technology in industrial countries must also be implemented in developing nations. Decreasing greenhouse gas emissions in developed nations through the use of greener energy sources such as wind turbines and solar panels would be beneficial, but the air quality around the globe will still be negatively affected by the energy produced from coal in lesser developed nations such as China. All the ecological systems on the planet are interconnected. The activities of one nation can be felt by the people in a nation that is on the other side of the globe.
Furthermore, in order to make the changes necessary to reduce the adverse affects on our environment, a change in societal attitudes and priorities may be required. Instead of simply reducing the way we manufacture and utilize goods and services, it may be necessary to reduce the overall consumption of resources. Consumerism is a major part of the culture for industrialized societies. This isn’t to say that people have to live without goods and services they want, but rather to say that consideration should be taken to examine which goods and services they find most important in their lives. The term voluntary simplicity is often used to describe the idea of living a simple life, or a life that corresponds to your values so that fulfillment and happiness can be met without the need for a great consumption of unnecessary materialistic objects.
Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 198-202.
According to the World Commission on Environment and Development, one of the main concepts associated with sustainable development is meeting the needs, such as food, shelter, and physical aspirations, of our society. Currently, because of a lack of social equality, the needs of the people are not being met. Poverty can be seen in both developed and developing nations. In order to eradicate poverty there needs to be an increase in the growth of goods and services. However, such an increase must be followed by a greater and more equal distribution of these resources. Also, since our environment is our life support system, the companies who extract resources must ensure that overexploitation does not occur so that peoples’ needs can continue to be met in the future.
Part of the issue surrounding unsustainable exploitation of our resources stems from individual and corporate pursuit for profit. Our economy is based on a market system, and therefore considerations of the impacts to the environment are often ignored in light of the potential revenues that can be made from further resource extraction. Therefore, it is suggested that environmental considerations need to become mandated or integrated into all decision-making and planning processes. Institutional development, law enforcement, and educational facilities need to convey this message to the public so that economic pursuits and ecological sustainability can be united and hence benefit everyone.
Balancing the economy, the environment, and social needs is very difficult and seldom achieved. In order to satisfy the ecological needs on our environment, a compromise must be met in the economy. Since society’s welfare is dependent on the economy, the ability to meet our social needs is also affected. However, it must be realized that no matter how careful a company can be in extracting resources from the environment, the environment is going to be impacted in some way. Since some changes are inevitable, we will have to find ways to reduce the impacts of these changes.
Advances in technology can often help reduce the impacts on the environment. Innovations in creating more sustainable, eco-friendly buildings has reduced the energy usage and wastes that some companies produce when manufacturing products. However, the technology in industrial countries must also be implemented in developing nations. Decreasing greenhouse gas emissions in developed nations through the use of greener energy sources such as wind turbines and solar panels would be beneficial, but the air quality around the globe will still be negatively affected by the energy produced from coal in lesser developed nations such as China. All the ecological systems on the planet are interconnected. The activities of one nation can be felt by the people in a nation that is on the other side of the globe.
Furthermore, in order to make the changes necessary to reduce the adverse affects on our environment, a change in societal attitudes and priorities may be required. Instead of simply reducing the way we manufacture and utilize goods and services, it may be necessary to reduce the overall consumption of resources. Consumerism is a major part of the culture for industrialized societies. This isn’t to say that people have to live without goods and services they want, but rather to say that consideration should be taken to examine which goods and services they find most important in their lives. The term voluntary simplicity is often used to describe the idea of living a simple life, or a life that corresponds to your values so that fulfillment and happiness can be met without the need for a great consumption of unnecessary materialistic objects.
Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 198-202.
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