Response # 6: Negleted Water Laws

Throughout the world people have become seriously ill and sometimes even died due to lack of clean drinking water. Most people may assume that this only a problem for third world countries; however it also happens in developed countries. Although the Safe Drinking Water Act was passed almost forty years ago, much of the tap water in the United States is unsafe to drink because of an overwhelmed regulatory agency, inadequate fines to prevent violations, and new threats that are currently unregulated.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for enforcing standards set by Congress and The Safe water Drinking Act. However according to Charles Duhigg, in his article “Clean Water Laws Are Neglected, at a Cost in Suffering,” it has become more difficult for the EPA to do their job due to downsizing caused by cutbacks. In addition, today’s EPA has more to inspect and even fewer personnel to do so. Many corporations have benefited a great deal because of the EPA being overwhelmed. With the EPA overwhelmed, this decreases the chance of fines, and increases the chance of violations. When companies do receive fines, they are often less than adequate to prevent further infractions. For instance, some fines are so low in comparison with the corporation’s profit that the loss can be made up within 10 hours. Furthermore, it has become even more difficult for the EPA, and other groups to prevent water contamination because the corporations have become effective lobbyist. It’s not uncommon for former EPA agents to switch sides for higher pay. Besides the difficulty of enforcing an effective preventive water pollution program, the EPA faces the additional challenge of unregulated sources of Pollution. For instance, water runoff from farms have contaminated many waterways, but are not currently included in the Water Protection Act.

In the End, without support, and backing of the larger government agencies the EPA cannot effectively maintain a safe water supply. The fines are so small and infrequent that they have little or no impact. Unsafe drinking water, and the health risks that accompany it, will continue as long as the corporations are the ones that decide if the drinking water should be safe. After all, there is much more money in polluting water, than keeping it clean.

Research Proposal, Part 1: The Effects of an Increased Population on the Environment

Thesis:
Although an increasing population can be good for economic development, the environment is becoming less stable due to overpopulation because it causes more pollution, leads to overcrowding, and causes a strain on finite resources.

Outline:
I. Pollution
A. Air pollution
1. Increased transportation leading to an increase of green house gases
2. More factories required to supply the increased demand again increasing green house gases
B. Water Pollution
1. Increased waste spilling into waterways causing contamination.
2. Increased farming causing the runoff of toxins into the water system.
II. Over-crowding
A. Biodiversity lost due to clearing homes for housing, farms, and agriculture.
1. Increased population requires land clearing that leads to a loss of habitats for many species and a less diverse ecosystem.
2. Over-crowding of farms leads to use of chemicals and antibiotics that causes contamination of the soil.
B Over-crowding of farms leading to production of too much waste.
1. Animal living conditions causes increased change for disease and food contamination.
2. Excessive Antibiotic use has led to the development of superbugs.
III. Strained Resources
A. less available food and water to go around due to population increase.
1. Less safe drinking water available to drink due to contaminated waterways.
2. More contaminated food due to the need to factory farm food.
B. High demand on energy resources leading to their depletion and need for new technology.
1. Energy resources running out faster than new technology can be developed.
2. New technology will require rebuilding the energy infrastructure, creating a strain on new resources, and increased waste from old infrastructure.

Essay #1- Cause/Effect: Food Inc. Change, Powerd by Choice

Since the industrial era businesses have been able to cut production costs and provide mass quantities of products at lower prices. Typical families are now capable of putting meat on the table, not only once a week, or even once a day, but every single meal. The reduction of meat prices is due to the industrialization of the farming industry, or commonly called factory farming. Although factory farming has produced large quantities of food at low-cost, factory farming causes problems for the environment because biodiversity is lost in the development of pastures, farms produce too much animal waste, resulting in polluted waterways, and the overuse of antibiotics has resulted in the development of superbugs. The documentary Food Inc. touches on many of these topics and unveils just how little consumers know about what they eat and where it comes from.

As pointed out in the film, most people are under the illusion that their food is grown on the cute little farms often depicted on the packaging of the products themselves. In all actuality, few of these farms exist, as most of them have been replaced with large factory farms (Kenner, 2009). The factory farms have over-crowding of livestock causing problems for the environment due to a loss of biodiversity. When acres of land are cleared for pastures, it limits the vegetation in that area to a monoculture, leading to an eco system cannot support many of the native species that once thrived there (Kenner, 2009). Not only does mass land clearing for pastures disrupt the balance in the local eco-systems, the deforestation cuts down our planets ability to deal with the green house gasses attributed to climate change. Carbon dioxide is one of the greenhouse gasses which is absorbed by plants that in turn give off oxygen as a byproduct. Additionally, the over-crowding of livestock in factory farming creates large amounts of animal waste, leading to the degradation of the soil. In traditional small family farming, less animal waste is produces allowing for the soil to absorb and use the animal waste without being overwhelmed.

In addition to harming the soil, the over accumulation of animal waste in factory farms has also contributed to water pollution. Chemicals and antibiotics are used so frequently to prevent and deal with illnesses caused by overcrowding, that the soil itself has become contaminated. To deal with excess waste generated on factory farms, many farmers store animal waste in manmade damns or lagoon like structures. When one of these structures breaks it can have devastating effects on the environment. For example, in 1995 the New River hog waste spill in North Carolina, introduced 25 million gallons of waste into the water causing the spread of disease and killing most of the fish; as a result, 364,000 acres of coastal fishing beds had to be closed down (Warrick, 1995). Spills are not the only way that the soil contaminates the water supply. Many of the antibiotics, chemicals, and bacteria found in animal waste ends up in the soil, and eventually into the water table below. Furthermore, the agriculture used to feed these animals have been grown with fertilizer and pesticides which has contaminated the soil, and polluted the water ways when it rains with toxic runoff. Again, as with soil contamination, the water contamination is caused by trying to produce too much product in an area too small to maintain a safe balance for the ecosystem.

Soil contamination and water pollution are not the only concerns when dealing with the overcrowding of the farm animals. With the use of antibiotics, and unsanitary conditions caused by excess waste, the bacteria that live in the waste have become resistant to many types of antibiotics creating superbugs. These superbugs disrupt the balance of the ecosystem and create health hazards. A University of Iowa study found that 70% of the hogs, and 64% of the workers had contracted a resistant strain of methicilin resistant staph, known as MSRA (Couric, 2010). The overuse of antibiotics has created superbugs that have disrupted the balance of our ecosystem and has created health hazards.

The cost to our health and environment are hidden when purchasing many of the foods that come from factory farmed animals. Though many packages are labeled with cute family fresh farm scenes, the reality is quite different. Animals are being forced to live in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions that have led to a degradation of our soil, water, and health. Although factory farming drives down the prices at the register, the overall cost to the environment is much higher. In the end, the film Food Inc. points out that the consumers demand for cheep food has led to the industrialization of farming; and in turn, it will be the consumers demand for sustainable eco-friendly food that will be responsible developing the environmentally safe farming techniques of the future.

References
Couric, K.. (Executive Producer). (2010, February 9). Animal antibiotic Overuse Hurting humans?[Television series episode]. New York: CBS Evening News. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/09/eveningnews/main6191530.shtml .

Kenner, R. & Pierce, R. (Directors). (2009). Food Inc. [Motion Picture]. United States: Magnolia home Entertainment.

Warrick, J.& Leayenworth, S. (1995, June 29). Waste spill receives hog legislation, House looks again at farm regulations. The News Observer of Raleigh, North Carolina. http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-recent/6271 .

Response # 5: Food Industry, or Food Mafia?

Occasionally we come across and movie, book, or experience that rocks us to our core. The documentary Food Inc. not only has to power to do just that, but also has to potential to turn the most dedicated meat-eater into a vegetarian. Has our food industry grown out of control? If the accusations in the documentary are true, the food industry looks more like a food mafia, than a business industry. The documentary is filled with tales of cruelty from animal abuse to worker abuse. In many ways it almost sounds as though it could be the sequel to Sinclair’s The Jungle. The food industry has become powerful with teams of lawyers, and many of the company’s associates filling seats in controlling political positions. Many feel that the food industry seems to be holding all the cards, and strong arming others to play by their rules; it’s no wonder so many feel as though they are unstoppable.

Remember though, there was a time when many felt that the tobacco industry was unstoppable too. The food industry may not be able to be beaten in the courtroom like the tobacco company, but they can be beaten at the registers. By the end of the movie the viewer is left feeling empowered knowing that they do have a choice, and they can make a difference. After all, the consumers are the ones that truly drive the market. Consumers decide what we they want and there is big business in supplying it for them. Even giants like Wal-mart are beginning to sell organics to supply customer’s demands.

Response # 4: Earth911.com

The website, Earth911.com, reaches beyond teaching its visitors how to recycle. At the top of the website is a recycling center locator. This is not just a listing of places that recycle items, it’s has a search section that allows visitors to look up exactly what they want to recycle. Additionally, the locator has a convenient feature that povides mapping information, phone numbers, addresses, and even curbside drop off sites.

Beyond the locator, there are many articles discussing environmental topics. These articles have comment sections allowing for more in-depth dialog. Furthermore, there are multiple links to other environmental friendly sites. These sites offer additional information and tips, for instance, organizational fundraiser opportunities involving recycling. Many of the sites visited had the Better Business Bureau stamp of approval on their pages. Earth911.com, and many of its linked sites, can be followed on Facebook and Twitter with weekly newsletters to keep visitors informed about current issues.

Overall, Earth911.com is a website designed to educate and assist those seeking to lower their carbon footprint, and live in a more sustainable lifestyle. With easy to find recycle centers and tips on how to live green, Earth911.com takes the stress out of wasting less. Earth911.com has something to offer both those that are new to recycling and the seasoned veterans as well. I highly recommend visiting and bookmarking Earth911.com.

Response #3: Which came First, Chickens or Automobiles?

According to Kathy Freston the author of the article “Vegetarian is the New Prius,” chickens, or livestock in general, produce a far greater impact on the environment than automobiles. Freston stated that this information comes from a United Nations report on livestock, and suggests that livestock is a leading cause for many environmental problems including global warming. Freston also believes that going vegetarian will solve many of these problems.

Though I agree that Americans are in need of a diet change due to obesity and overconsumption, switching to an all vegetarian diet will not fix the problem, it will only change it. For instance, according to Freston, one benefit to going vegetarian is that there would be less demand for animal agriculture. However, I feel that this benefit would be quickly offset by the increased demand for agriculture needed to be produced for human consumption. Additionally, Freston stated that there would be less animal waste, which would reduce the methane in the environment. I do agree that we have too much fertilizer due to the overproduction of animals causing many environmental problems. However this is where the problem doesn’t get fixed with such an extreme measure as eliminating meat from the American diet; the increased demand for crops would yield a great strain on the soil, so much so that additional fertilizer would be needed to yield the most crops per acre of land. Additionally, like meat our vegetables would begin to lose some health benefits, to make way for faster growing genetically modified strains. These less healthy strains would be needed as the healthier organic crops would not be able to supply the increased demand.

Ultimately, there is no one thing causing all of our problems in the environment as everything is interconnected. Therefore there is no one solution that will fix everything either. I believe that working towards finding a sustainable balance in general, instead of going to extremes, will yield the greatest benefit in the end.

Response # 2: Less Costs More, Especially When it comes to Nutrition

Initially, low-cost foods appear to cost less, but with the current practices of the food industries, our environment and the living creatures on it are paying a hefty price. In industrialized nations the bottom line tends to focus more on the dollar than anything else. It was evident during the initial years of development with examples from Upton Sinclair’s novel The Jungle, and is still present today with example from the documentary A Fast Food Nation.

We get another glance at the food industry with Bryan Walsh’s article titled “Getting Real About the High Price of Cheap Food.” Walsh points out that in some ways things have gotten better, and in some ways they have gotten worse. Walsh also stated that, “Unless Americans radically rethink the way they grow food they face a future of eroded farmland, hollowed-out countryside, scarier germs, higher health costs and bland taste.” I couldn’t agree more that we need to make changes in the way we eat and grow food. However, I also feel that these changes are not enough.

With both the steady population growth and an increase in industrialization, the demand for cheap meat will increase beyond the ability to provide for it sustainably, if it hasn’t already. In addition to eating and growing more sustainably, people need to turn their focus to living more sustainably. One way to accomplish this is a move towards population growth, and to help prevent the developing nations from making the same mistakes as the industrialized nations. In order to achieve the goal of creating a healthy environment with a healthy population we need to focus on living simply to improve the environment and quality of life for all.

Response #1: Look before we Leap into Renewable Energy

Going green has gained the support of many people to help combat the effects of climate change. One would think that every environmentalist would be on board. However, some of the projects are getting too big, causing some environmentalists to resist. They feel that development is harmful, and thus unacceptable regardless of its color label.

Tim Dickson addressed the resistance some of the green developers face from the conservationists in his article titled “Electric Bugaboo.” On one side of the issue, you have the conservationists who have been fighting to prevent development of the lands for centuries. They do not feel that developments are acceptable, even when they’re labeled green. On the other side, the developers are going to great lengths to pick locations that would cause the least amount of impact on the environment. Additionally, the developers feel that the conservationists are missing the big picture, that doing nothing will cause far more harm for the environment.

I agree with the developers that doing nothing would have a far greater impact against the environment than the development itself. However, I am concerned that some issues have not been addressed. For example, it’s not uncommon for the implementation of a new technology to have unintended consequences. Just as the use of fossil fuels had the unintended consequence of climate change, renewable energy might have one as well. Before I could fully support such a development, I would like to see data on the long-term effects of implementing the renewable energy program. For instance, the solar panels will not last forever, what would be the impact of their disposal in mass quantities?