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
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I think we have become obsessed with our lawns because it is a display of ourselves to the public world. If it is in exceptional shape it would be the first thing an individual would notice and often judge the house's inside quality and values of the family. It is about fitting into the perfection of the ideal world. I feel the presentation by Susan was so interesting as it was a local outlook on an issue, which is a switch from the mostly global way we have been approaching the coarse thus far. I also loved to find out things you could make with dandelions! That ice cream was so good, I cannot wait to make the cookies!
ReplyDeleteI would agree that the obsession with the aesthetic nature of our lawns is a display of our status in society. It makes logical sense that we seek to portray ourselves by defining our habitat with the look that reflects our achievements. It's just interesting that by beautifying our environment, we are harming those around us. My dad is an avid lawn -lover, so I can now see clearly how much I can relate to this notion of pesticide use in my own community. I would have never guessed in a million years that you could eat a Dandelion, and that it can be used for so many different things. Next time I see my dad bust out the pesticide to spray the lawn and kill a valuable resource (dandelions), I'm going to give him a lecture!
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