Left: Laura DunnWeek 7:
At the beginning of week 7 we started to watch the documentary by graduate student Laura Dunn, called "Green." This documentary talked about "Cancer Alley" a 100 mile stretch on both sides of the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The documentary showed some of the affects on the community in cancer alley. I was upset that kids are getting rare forms of cancer due to all the chemicals in their environment, and the EPA is not really protecting the people of this area. We also discussed reading 16 about The Chemical Plant Next Door, and also did a little resarch using the Environmental Working Group to check out what kind of cosmetic products we were using and how they affect us and our environment.
Week 8:
During this week we learned mostly about Privatization of Water from Reading 31 and also from the film "Thirst." Privatization of water is a term referring to the private sector owning water services and sanitation, not usually the water itself. They are in the business for profit not necessarily for the consumers best interest. Because water services are seen as such a key public service, proposals for this privatization often gets strong opposition compared to other utilities. Globally, more than 83% population has access to water, but that is 17% without.
All and All I was disappointed with how the US government has handled many things when it comes to protecting it's people and our environment.
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Wow I swear these weaks are flying by! I thought that I learned a lot about water and the privatizing of it. Before this I didn't even know that existed. I also thought the the website about our cosmetics we used was really alarming!
ReplyDeleteDerek-
ReplyDeleteGreat reflections- you have a great memory or take good notes and rememebr some key points that we discuss. I too think the government can do a better job at handling some situations, but at the same time it's hard to please everyone.
Derek,
ReplyDeleteIt is too bad that so many people are getting these cancers along that stretch of land known as Cancer Alley. It would be really nice if everyone near these toxic plants could relocate away from there to a nicer area. If we do not make sure the government runs the way we want it, then we will no longer have a democratic government. So, good for the grass roots campaigners of Stockton, California to try and get their voice heard to oppose the privatization of their water. We need to watch out for ourselves, and our government, as so we don't get taken advatage of.