Susan Koswan's presentation on her battle to ban cosmetic pesticide use was very interesting and motivating. I think Susan's determination and patience really helped her reach her goal, and I really appreciated the handout on different strategies. The video Susan showed was very powerful and I too think it would be interesting to note how the children in the valley developed later in life, and whether the children in the foothills were significantly more developed. The topics in the presentation tied in very nicely to the information in the text. It was an opportunity to see how someone had been affected first hand by environmentally hazardous material. Finally I really appreciated that Susan gave us suggestions for what we can do with Dandelion's; it shows that there are more uses for things that we have historically considered waste, or ascetically displeasing.
Question
Does anyone know why so many individuals have become obsessed about the visual appearance of their lawns? I remember when I was little some of my neighbours would yell if you stepped a foot on their lawn. Since when have our lawns become such a defining feature?
Heat
The text and the presentation discuss the impacts of global warming and the overwhelming cases of heat related deaths. I agree that those who do not have equal access to air conditioning, cool areas, and live in urban centres are more likely to suffer from extreme heat exposure. Populations who have unequal access to health care are also more likely to suffer. This is obviously not just an environmental issue, but it is intrinsically related to health care. If marginal populations had sufficient health care, death rates due to global warming could be decreased. The environment, social justice, and health care are all related to the unequal rates of death due to climate change. I think many ideas, systems and policies need to be reworked so we decrease the number of deaths due to global warming. Furthermore, those at risk need to be considered and further actions need to be implemented to reduce health inequalities.
Monday
Environmental Health- Dandelion's and Heat
Technological Advances- or Tomorrow's Garbage?
Thursday's seminar showed us the affects of technological change. The text discussed the history of technology and the changes within agriculture and industry. The article Greg and Katelyn chose went more in depth discussing the key issues that are affecting us currently (e-waste). Finally the film rounded out the presentation by showing a visual representation of what technology is doing to the growing global environment. The presentation was very affective, and it helped to further my knowledge on the issue, and become more aware of my consumptive habits.
The reality in Edward Burtynsky's "Manufactured Landscapes" is breath taking. I have known about e-waste for a couple of years now, but I have never been aware of it visually. The nature of it is cyclical. As we develop products we exploit other nations to engage in cheap labour. Then we buy vast amounts of unnecessary commodities- we throw them in the garbage without a care. Finally the countries that are exploited to help 'us' progress become our trash cans. The article discusses the nature of consumerism in Western society. As consumers we are told that is it cheaper to buy a new product than fix a broken one. When we throw out old products we rarely consider where they are coming from, and where they end up. I am sure most individuals just assume they are recycled and reused, but they forget question where this process takes place. I think in our current status driven society individuals are concerned about having the latest technologies. When the new iPhone was released onto the market, I can imagine that many people who had perfectly good cell phones chose to upgrade and ditch their old one. Technology is changing at an increasing rate, it is seen as progress, and no one wants to be left behind.
Something Fun and Interesting
All of the talk of technology and waste reminded me of a quiz I took online for another course. The quiz measures your individual ecological footprint, and at the end it tells you how many worlds it would take to sustain your lifestyle. So I recommend that you take the quiz and it might encourage you to live more sustainably, and be less wasteful. Have Fun! And let me know what you think!
http://www.myfootprint.org/
The reality in Edward Burtynsky's "Manufactured Landscapes" is breath taking. I have known about e-waste for a couple of years now, but I have never been aware of it visually. The nature of it is cyclical. As we develop products we exploit other nations to engage in cheap labour. Then we buy vast amounts of unnecessary commodities- we throw them in the garbage without a care. Finally the countries that are exploited to help 'us' progress become our trash cans. The article discusses the nature of consumerism in Western society. As consumers we are told that is it cheaper to buy a new product than fix a broken one. When we throw out old products we rarely consider where they are coming from, and where they end up. I am sure most individuals just assume they are recycled and reused, but they forget question where this process takes place. I think in our current status driven society individuals are concerned about having the latest technologies. When the new iPhone was released onto the market, I can imagine that many people who had perfectly good cell phones chose to upgrade and ditch their old one. Technology is changing at an increasing rate, it is seen as progress, and no one wants to be left behind.
Something Fun and Interesting
All of the talk of technology and waste reminded me of a quiz I took online for another course. The quiz measures your individual ecological footprint, and at the end it tells you how many worlds it would take to sustain your lifestyle. So I recommend that you take the quiz and it might encourage you to live more sustainably, and be less wasteful. Have Fun! And let me know what you think!
http://www.myfootprint.org/
Wednesday
Corporate Power and the Media
The presentation was well done, I think they did a good job integrating aspects from the chapter as well as introducing new perspectives. I think the documentary "The Corporation" did a good job of portraying multinational corps, and their influence on global media and consumers. I was appalled to find out that the 14th amendment has given corporations many of the same rights as 'persons'. I was curious if this was the same in Canada, and if these corporations can exercise their rights across the globe or just in the United States? I think that in granting corporations the same rights as persons we have in fact lost more rights. We are constantly exposed to only limited amounts of media that are filtered by a few multinational corporations. Our choices are limited and it is becoming increasingly difficult to avoid certain companies, especially those that have businesses in a variety of markets. The media we are receiving is one sided, corporations like Disney own ABC and regulate comments to ensure they will not tarnish their reputation. It is absurd when companies such as GE engage in vast amounts of environmental population and contamination, the general public will never hear about it, and they will maintain their reputation.
Going Green has been the front end focus of many corporations. Many manufacture eco-friendly products and claim they are using more efficient resources. Companies like Wal-mart claim they are 'Going Green' and they currently have a line of Green products to enforce their Green reputation. The environmental movement has enforced corporations to appear as though they are changing to meet the needs of sustainability. Companies are promoting green products, but behind closed doors they are still engaging in the same old environmental misconduct. The new green products work as a blinding mechanism, whereby both the corporations and consumers feel like they are doing their part, one more purchase at a time.
Greensumption
I found a short YouTube clip called 'Greensumption' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ft5SSIfmeKU&feature=PlayList&p=9BDEDA868F51DB6A&playnext=1&index=2 it is a sarcastic clip that pokes fun at the new market of green products. It also raises the issues of our lifestyles. The video proposes that green products will not help save the environment unless people also change their lifestyle and consumption habits. Do you think that in our increasingly neo-liberal, individualistic society people are willing to consume less?
Going Green has been the front end focus of many corporations. Many manufacture eco-friendly products and claim they are using more efficient resources. Companies like Wal-mart claim they are 'Going Green' and they currently have a line of Green products to enforce their Green reputation. The environmental movement has enforced corporations to appear as though they are changing to meet the needs of sustainability. Companies are promoting green products, but behind closed doors they are still engaging in the same old environmental misconduct. The new green products work as a blinding mechanism, whereby both the corporations and consumers feel like they are doing their part, one more purchase at a time.
Greensumption
I found a short YouTube clip called 'Greensumption' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ft5SSIfmeKU&feature=PlayList&p=9BDEDA868F51DB6A&playnext=1&index=2 it is a sarcastic clip that pokes fun at the new market of green products. It also raises the issues of our lifestyles. The video proposes that green products will not help save the environment unless people also change their lifestyle and consumption habits. Do you think that in our increasingly neo-liberal, individualistic society people are willing to consume less?
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