On February 12th, Nickolas Grim and Keltie Hammond gave a presentation to our class with regards to environmental health and other practices directly impacting humans. They brought in a guest speaker by the name of Susan Koswan. I thought this woman was such a great inspiration through all the work that she has accomplished. I think that banning pesticide use and founding the Dandelion festivals (as just a few of her vast accomplishments), shows that being environmentally friendly can happen, it just takes a bit of elbow grease. I didn't realize pesticide use has such negative implications on the growth of children (an interesting issue). Can we really put ourselves in such a position as to harm others for the sake of a nice looking lawn or for a bigger/rounder/redder tomato? Where are the ethical boundaries? And who has power to draw them?
I think it's interesting to note that harmful chemicals and toxins that humans are exposed to are produced by humans ourselves. We create that which directly harms us. So why do we continue to produce harmful chemicals that stunt our growth as a human race? and make a point to further innovate products that can kill? At first glance, pesticide use seems appropriate for reasons concerning the banishment of insects, bacteria and weeds that are not deemed 'sanitary' in terms of contact with human food. I would argue that long-term effects, both positive and negative should be more closely examined before pesticide use is approved. It makes little sense to continue to use pesticides when the consequences of its use are showing their true colours. Harm to human health and the environment should be enough proof to stop the use of pesticides. So why don't we stop?
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I think that's a good way of putting things. It seems like the real problem is that people don't understand the impacts these things are having, as with many other environmental issues. These 'people' being not only those directly involved in these atrocities but the general public who hold the attitude that "if it doesn't affect me, I don't care about it", that's if they even know about these issues. It's quite clear that some issues like these are swept under the rug and involve hiding as much information from the public as possible. It's quite a shame since it all seems to come down to morals, like most other envirnomental issues.
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