Kaelani Baker

Please (choose 1 of the following) read the article/ watch the following movie clip and comment with your reaction to the video. These kinds of things are still happening today. [Post your article here].

I think that it is absolutely ridiculous that things like this are still happening today. With all of the health codes that have been developed over the last few years, we shouldn’t be running into problems like this. It is ridiculous that people are not conscious enough to realize the consequences of their actions. Unfortunately, everything we do is going to affect a generation in the future. We need to think about how our actions will affect the populations to come, because the populations that came before us obviously did not, and look at the adverse effects.

Please (choose 1 of the following) read the article/ watch the following movie clip.  Why should we care about something that happened over 30 years ago? [Post your article here].

In my opinion, we should care about things that happened 30 years ago because they are still affecting us today. The environment’s problems will never go away—they will constantly resurface in new forms. Also, if we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. None of us were alive 30 years ago, so we need to learn all we can from these tragedies that occurred so that we don’t have a similar one in 30 years to come.

Please (choose 1 of the following) read the article/ watch the following movie clip. Based on the impact environmental tragedies affect you/your family how likely are you to take action against disasters like this one? [Post your article here].

I personally don’t see myself taking drastic action to avoid disasters like this one, but I think that I, and everyone else on this earth, can do little things to avoid them. If everyone does one small thing, we can make a big difference. If everyone carpools one day a week to work, or writes one letter to their Congressman in their life about environmental hazards, we could make a huge difference. United we stand, divided we fall.

Responses from my friends and family:

“In my opinion, the environment is lame.  It rarely creates temperatures and humidity conditions that I am comfortable with and therefore I don't like the environment.  Mars has no atmosphere and as far as I can tell, Martians get along just fine.  The End.” (Ryan Baker)

“Hi Kaelani! I read the article and while I agree that what happened to this community is a tragedy, I am surprised to read that this author considers it "one of the most appalling environmental tragedies in American history." (I only say that because there isn't one death he attributes to it.)

Anyway, I think in the back of our minds we always have to take into consideration environmental hazards. What do we eat? Where does it come from? What are we living by? Where do we build a home? We constantly take air and food into our bodies and therefore must be concerned about what is in it.

 But, that being said, do we want to not eat or breathe anything for fear it has been tainted somehow? We cannot live in a constant state of fear or what is the point in living? Everyone will die eventually from something in the environment that has destroyed the body. You can only do your best to educate yourself and then go about trying to keep yourself and your family as healthy and happy as possible!” (Julie Baker)

“In answer to your question -- I don't think that each of us personally should be concerned about anything "on a daily basis." (That's bad for our health too.)  But I do think that environmental hazards are serious, that we should be cognizant of possible hazards in our own areas, and that we should have systems in place to assure that someone or some entity or organization that can do anything about the hazards will have the duty to worry about them on a daily basis.  This includes not only existing waste dump sites, but the possible hazards of industrial (and energy producing) practices that are currently being implemented.

The protection of mother earth (including her atmosphere and waterways) is absolutely essential for the health of all species, plant and animal.  And we especially must be concerned that we provide a healthy environment (toxin-free) so that the coming and rising generations will enjoy the benefits (and avoid the health hazards) of good health -- unthreatened by environmental pollutants.” (Sherry Baker)

“For me, i'm just not feeling it.  Environmental hazards are not something I think about.  I know it's a possibility, but I just don't think about it happening near me.  You know what I mean?” (Marshall Baker)

“I do think we should be concerned about environmental hazards on a daily basis.  If we do not have procedures in place to dispose of harmful chemicals, then all of the population will have to pay for the disasters.  If you are not living close to the event, then you will be effected with higher taxes to take care of the disaster.  

We live in a time where we should be socially responsible and not put things in the earth that we know will be harmful to us or those around us.  Our water supply is susceptible to contaminants and we should know better from tragedies like this one.  The environment is interrelated and one thing will have an effect on another.  It also comes down to ethics - we should practice good ethics in the workplace and that would hold true when dealing with environmental hazards.” (Shandell Baker)

“I don't think about it on a daily basis, but after viewing this video, I probably will. What is lurking in our Daybreak lake, besides red worm? What did Kennecott cover over to create our subdivision and why does the land have a green glow at night? : )

In all sincerity, if we believe that God created the earth, it gives us more reason to be wise stewards of the earth.  We need to think about generations to come and we can't have a short-sided view of what is good and convenient for us right now.  I think there is a continuous trade-off of what is easy/convenient for us now verses what will benefit our descendants.” (Brian Pratt)

“Kaelani-- I think of the environment often and wonder how the things we do each day will effect the future. And I think we all have a responsibility in keeping the earth as clean and safe as we can.” (Ashley Baker)

“We should definitely be concerned about environmental hazards on a daily basis, not only can huge tragedies like this one occur but our health everyday can be effected, by the air we're breathing or the food were eating.” (Bekah Dickson)

“I guess this is something we need to be worried about, but I just don’t think about it on a daily basis. I probably should, but honestly, I am in high school—it is not the first thing on my mind. I will recycle—that can be my contribution.” (Toria Baker)

“I definitely think that we should be concerned about environmental hazards, but we shouldn't obsess over them or be concerned in a daily basis. I think it's our responsibility to watch the news and keep up with things that are happening as part of our duty to ourselves and our families. We should be prepared in case anything should happen, but I do not think that concern on a daily basis is necessary.” (Easton Webster)

My example of an environmental tragedy was the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/26/us/26rig.html?ref=gulfofmexico2010