Easton Webster

For this assignment, I researched the Love Canal Tragedy in addition to a major oil spill in Peru that happened last year. I posted the two articles to Facebook and asked for comments, and also emailed some people that I know to get their reactions on the incidences. The question I asked was, In your opinion are environmental hazards something we should be concerned about on a daily basis? This is what I found.

1. Larry Webster: I think we have learned a great deal over the past several decades about chemicals, their risks and how to properly dispose of them. So, while I think it is important that we focus on proper storage and disposal of hazardous substances, and properly punish those who fail to do so, this is not something that the average person needs to worry themselves about daily.

2. Selene Clark: I think we need to be aware of environmental hazards. We need to keep abreast of the latest findings and try to reduce our exposure when possible. But we have to live too and it doesn't do any good to live in fear. So no, don't worry about it daily, more like monthly.

3. Nicole Webster: I think we need to worry about environmental hazards. If we don't worry about and do something about it, then who knows what kind of damage is slowly being done to the earth and to us. Someday may be you late to worry about it.

4. Dan Webster: I think the term environmental hazards is pretty broad and open ended and can contain things like fracking that I do not worry about each day to issues like bpa in my plastic bottles etc. I think it is important to be aware of issues, be concerned that we are being good stewards of the earth yet understanding that living your life in fear is no way to live.

5. Aimee Winward: I always think it is important to have knowledge about things. However, obsessing over ANYTHING is not a good thing. So, learn about environmental hazards and the information they have learned over the last hundred years, but live your life with joy, doing the best you can.

6. DeAnna Savory: I read both articles and I totally agree with Dan. I couldn't have said it better myself. I think that the environmental tragedies described in the articles are horrible! I feel sad that we live in a world were there are a tons of people, mostly in third world countries, that are exposed to hazardous elements like mercury just because they are trying to make a living and survive. I believe that in cases like this, is isn't something I worry about on a daily basis. Worrying about things you can't control is futile. However, I do feel that if we can be active in our community's efforts to have a clean environment, by recycling and not littering, we can feel like we ARE doing our part to be "good stewards over the earth" like Dan said so well. I hate to be long winded, but The MAIN point I want to make in my statement is that ALL PEOPLE need to become more educated about Environmentalism. While it is all well and good to recycle, stop using styrofoam, make sure you don't litter garbage like the plastic six-pack rings that the animals get stuck in or whatever, I believe the MOST important thing is to be well informed about "controversial" environmental subjects such as fracking and drilling for oil. The "dumb masses" don't learn about these things, they just accept the position that their political party takes. I believe that the companies that mine or drill for natural resources should be responsible, but not so constrained that they aren't allowed to access those resources because the government has put so many rules into place that those companies have their freedoms taken away from others. THAT IS what concerns me on a daily basis.

7. Steven VanderHoek: Environmental hazards are real and can have, at times, significant implications, but they certainly do not mandate DAILY concern. At times when the matter comes up it should be taken seriously and proper precautions should be taken.

8. Bret Bassett: Environmental disasters of the kind described in the "Love Canal" article are extremely troubling. It is clear that there is a need for oversight and accountability to ensure these kind of tragedies do not happen. Disposal of toxic waste should be highly controlled and managed. Penalties for misuse or abuse should be high. However I don't believe that making environmental hazards a daily part of our public discourse and debate is necessary or appropriate. Anxiety over causes of illness, leeching of toxic waste, industrial accidents including explosions, etc is already very high and if concerns over these kind of 'potential' disasters is raised constantly it can lead to widespread paranoia and hypochondria which in themselves create more problems. Often these kind of problems only affect a small number of people, or small size of community. And when the press highlight them and make them seem overwhelmingly tragic, it causes public anxiety in places where it is unwarranted. Like talking about the tragedies of 'acid rain' in a place where they get so little rainfall that the issue is mute. Now having said that, if there is an ongoing problem, one whose affects are widespread and potentially out of control then it should absolutely be discussed and made a very high priority in our public discussion and media coverage. This will help motivate greater action on the part of public officials who can make necessary changes.

9. Mike Newcum: Environmental travesties in what might be called third-world-countries is frightening to read about. The deforestation and mercury poisoning in Peru will indeed impact the population there on a daily basis over the long term. However, once I read about a serious problem that is impacting Peru, within a day, I have forgotten about it. Peru is a long ways away; the environment that is damaged will probably never affect me; it is difficult to relate to these problems since our government prohibits such pollution. I have read about the rain forest disappearing for years but no consequence to speak of that touches our lives here. The concern is not felt by me on a daily basis.  We are generally powerless to stop pollution and as a result, any concern is usually transitory and quickly forgotten. Since I have no control over what happens in Peru, it is difficult to have daily concern. Even if we all felt the need to be concerned on a daily basis, how do we funnel the concern into constructive action in a country where the population is struggling with basic needs to exist. 

10. Debra Newcum: The reality is most of us do not think of these atrocities unless they directly affect us. I realize the great harm in altering the ecosystem in the Amazon and the possible devastation it will pose to the earth, but it is a thought and a sadness with no real action on my part. I, like many others, think I am just one little person what can I do to save a country so far removed from my back door? I find myself stressed and angry at governments who allow such things to take place and strive to vote those into power who likewise care. But that too seems to be an uphill task as demonstrated by our last election. To sum up my thoughts, yes I am concerned and do my best to do my part when I can make a difference with my voting powers or community service. But I am not concerned with the environmental hazards throughout the world on a daily basis.  There needs to be more awareness on my part with these issues to enable me to become more involved.

Do you believe that environmental crises affect you/your family today?

I do not believe that environmental crises like Love Canal affect my family today, but I think that’s the whole point. People always go around thinking that things won’t affect them, so they aren’t aware of the environmental issues that are going on at the time. So right now I don’t think that there is a significant environmental crisis that will affect myself and my family, but I think we all need to be aware of what’s going on in case something does happen. 

Were you aware that environmental tragedies of this magnitude still exist today?

I was aware that things like this still happened today, but I didn’t realize how often they happened. When I was researching another article I came across dozens of articles about earthquakes and oil spills and other tragedies of surprising magnitude. I just didn’t realize how frequently they happen and how little attention I pay to the news. 

Why should we care about something that happened over 30 years ago?

I think we should care about something that happened over 30 years ago for the same reason that we care about the Civil War and the World Wars that our country has been involved in. We want to be aware of past events so that we can either prevent them from happening in the future or be able to control and contain them more efficiently if they do happen.