Environmental Health
The guest speaker on Thursday, Susan Koswan, demonstrated the negative's and difficulties associated with trying to pass environmental movements. Some of the key players that she mentioned while trying to pass the pesticide ban are health professionals, government employees, policy makers, activists, environmental groups and the cancer society. She showed how one person can gain the interest of many others and make a postive movement.
It was very surprising to hear about the alternatives to pesticides. I would have assumed that companies would loose money if the pesticides were taken away but Susan explained that studies show alternatives do work and are good for the companies and economy.
After watching the movie of the children who are dying in Mexico, it made me wonder what the actual health problems are. It would be interesting to look at other developing countries that are attempting to keep up with our developed world. Ex. We should be more encouraged to buy local food where we know the labour that is going into it and the health problems that are associated. At least here we know that pesticides can no longer be used, and there is a good health care system to support the workers if problems arise.

Technological Change and the Environment

It is not surprising to hear that e-waste is the fastest growing area of the international waste steam. Electronic products are being manufactured to have a shorter shelf life than what they once use to. With the capitalist economy that we live in it makes it hard to manufacture products to last because the income will not be as great. I think that companies should focus a lot of their attention on making their products more environmentally friendly. The environment can only be ignored for so long, and with the increased technology things are only going to get worse. There is a need to break away from the treadmill of production.
So who should be involved in making changes? I agree with the product stewardship that everyone needs to be involved in order for change to occur. If a company makes an environmental product, then it is up to the consumer to dispose of it properly. One thing that I think would make a difference is by creating extra environmental charges on purchases as well as for the company. For example: The company who is producing a product that is not environmentally friendly should be charged a certain fee in order to cover the costs of disposal or to pay money that is going into environmental research. The consumers who are buying products such as cell phones every year should also have to pay an environmental fee. With the state of our economy many people are trying to save money but do not realize the little changes that can make a difference. Maybe when people get mad enough about having to pay the extra charges, they will stop consuming as much as they do. Technology such as cell phones and computers have become a necessity in our everyday lives, and I think that people are taking too many things for granite.