There is a spiralling global demand for cheap & good quality food, & the only economically viable way to meet this demand is by intensive agricultural farming.
What are the pros & cons of such an activity?
Advantages
- More jobs are created & thus the economy is boosted, for a country with a high poverty & unemployment rate.
- Big hog-farming companies like Smithfield pay small-time farmers to fatten up the pigs before slaughter. This way, small-time farmers get to earn extra income as well.
- Affordable & high-quality meat is produced, making the country a major exporter of meat.
- Though one or two farms get to earn extra profit, ultimately it is the big companies that monopolize the agricultural business.
- These farms are more often than not, environmentally damaging.
- Large amounts of waste (pig slurry) are accumulated & gases like ammonia & hydrogen sulphide are emitted, causing headaches, eye irritation, mood alterations, fatigue or even antibiotic resistant diseases.
- Moreover, the farm & its harmful gases & unbearable stench makes it difficult for residents around the area to live there comfortably.
- Research shows that quantity of antibiotics given to pigs are 15-30 times more than legally allowed.
TOPIC 2: Moses & the 10 plagues- caused by water pollution?
It has been recently speculated that the 10 plagues mentioned in the Bible have been caused mostly by water pollution in the Nile River, poisoning fish thus triggering the tragic chains of events.
One possible explanation for several of the plagues is the Pfisteria theory.
Pfisteria is a harmless marine micro-organism. In 1999, it was found that waste from a pig farm nearby have caused river poisoning, genetically mutating Pfisteria, killing fish, turning the river red. People working near the river were covered in sores.
The water pollution may have driven frogs onto the land, forcing flies & lice to migrate somewhere else to prevent being eaten. The flies or lice may have then transmitted diseases to livestock, killing them.
In the Bible, the 10 plagues were sent by God as a form of punishment to the people, whereas now, there is a scientific explanation to these plagues, stirring confusion & doubt & possibly outrage among believers of Christ. So now, which of these theories are we to believe?
As a Christian myself, I have to say I'm on both sides of the fence. Yes, these tragic events may have happened because of environmental pollution, but there is also reason to believe that they happened because God wanted it to. The poisoning of the river may have been planned by God, to produce a chain of events as punishment for earthly sins.
However, taking a more aesthetic & scientific view, waste polluting water is a common problem to have & to many others, God may not exist. Scientists have thoroughly researched these theories & have proven them to be completely plausible; plus the Bible could be wrong, as it was written by Man with his own interpretations.
That said, it is entirely up to the individual to believe in what he/she would rather have faith in.
TOPIC 3: Harbin leak - China
In November 2005, there had been a major toxic leak 80km long, stretching from China to Russia.
As a result of the spill, both nations suffered tremendous inconvenience.
- Natural environments in both countries were greatly affected.
- Supplies of water, hot & cold, were cut off for at least 40hours.
- Schools & restaurants had to stop business.
- Harbin's residents had to queue long hours in sub-zero temperatures for water from lorries.
- Villagers had to be evacuated from their homes.
TOPIC 4: Pearl River delta & Yellow River
More than 100 chemical plants in China have been deemed as threats to rivers. And a total of 21000 chemical factories have been found to be located along China's coastlines & rivers, half of which are dangerously close to China's 2 most important rivers, Yangtze & the Yellow Rivers. These 2 rivers feed millions of people. Ever since the last major toxic leak in Harbin, it is important that future such accidents are prevented.
I think that it is commendable that China is making such a great effort to help improve the current environmental situation, changing their approach to development. Before, it was development at any cost at the expense of the environment. Now it is clear they are trying hard to stop further environmental degradation, while still developing the economy.
TOPIC 5: How healthy are barbequed foods?
Barbecuing food is a popular way of preparing meats & it is usually tasty. But it can also pose as a serious health risk. All raw meats are cooked on the same barbecue grills, & these meats, cooked or raw are constantly being handled by the same pair of hands or gloves. This may cause cross-contamination. Incorrect cooking may lead to uncooked meat, causing food poisoning.
Therefore, it is important to know the proper guidelines to barbecuing food.
- Wash hands before touching any raw meats.
- Use separate tongs to handle raw & cooked meats.
- Make sure none of the food is overcooked or undercooked, as both can lead to harmful effects.
TOPIC 6: Pesticides in a third of all our foods
Pesticide is used by farmers to get rid of unwanted pests feeding on & damaging crops. However, too much of pesticide used can lead to harmful effects on the consumer. Overexposure of the toxicity of the pesticides can cause genetic mutation in us human beings. Moreover, there is a chance that pests can get immune to the pesticides.
One solution is to find the right pesticide with the right amount of toxicity, strong enough to control pests, yet low enough to be harmless to humans.
TOPIC 7: Pesticides: Good or bad?
As mentioned above, chemicals are sprayed on crops to prevent pests from damaging them. These chemicals are useful if sprayed in moderation, & the amount does not exceed legal limits. However, too much of it can pose as a health risk to not only the consumers, but the people who are near it & inhale the air filled with toxicity. An unfortunate example is a child being born with health problems, like having only partial sight & asthma.
Pesticides can be useful. It helps to get rid of unwanted bugs that might be affecting the growth of the crops that we consume. But because of the high chemical levels in it, it is safest if used in moderation.
TOPIC 8: Mothballs: Not just for humans
It has been discovered that for ages, termites have already been using an early form of mothball. The mothball is made from napthalene mixed with soil & wood. It keeps their enemies away, specifically the fire ant, whereas they themselves remain totally unharmed.
Mothballs are used by humans to keep bugs at bay from their clothes in their closet. Now we know that we are not the only ones who use them.
TOPIC 9: e-Waste recycling- India
Millions of electronic waste are being dumped in India every year. It is causing a new environmental problem for the people in Delhi, the computer heartland of India. This is because these electronic waste contain a lot of toxic materials. For example: mercury, lead, flame retardants, PVC coated wires; all these are harmful to the environment & to the people.
Recycling these electronic wastes may be a good idea. They are reused & the recycling business helps create jobs as well. However, by burning the materials, harmful & hazardous gases are being released into the air. Workers' health are being put at risk; they suffer from respiratory diseases & skin problems.
A couple of ways to help improve the situation is making it a policy for the recyclers to wear a mask while working. But a more effective way, albeit difficult, is to start having more environmentally-friendly computers. Harmful substances in computers will have to eliminated, but this way proves difficult as not many suppliers would be willing to go the extra mile for such trouble or cost. Companies would have to recycle their own computers themselves. This way, the harmful gases released from recycling them would not be concentrated all in India.
TOPIC 10: Effects of mining activities on the environment & human health
Nickel, cobalt & copper smelting have caused great ancient forests in Europe to be destroyed. What once used to be lush green forests with life, are now reduced to vast deserts made by man.
Although these mining towns are among the most polluted in Russia, the people living there are on the other hand enjoying a higher standard of living. This is due to the drastic decrease in sulphur dioxide levels. Although they remain high, it is comparatively low to that in the early 1990s. Moreover, better & more advanced technology allows for invention of ways to keep those levels even lower.
Besides that, the people are gaining benefits from the global rise in metal prices.
However, it is unwise to keep tapping on the nation's seemingly endless supply of minerals & reserves because one day, it will definitely run out. With companies having designs on these resources to fulfill their big plans so that they can earn more money, it is crucial that a policy is laid down, to stop them from doing further harm to the environment. Miners are also put at risk because of their low working standards. They suffer from ill health, ranging from throat irritation to cardio-respiratory diseases & cancer.
It is not worth earning so much money at the expense of the nation's human & nature resources.
TOPIC 11: Pollution in the Baltic
The Baltic Sea is in critical condition as pollution from Russia, St.Petersburg is driving it to be unsafe & the marine life in it are below average biological levels. There is lack of oxygen in the sea, greatly affecting algae & plankton growth, thus preventing fish that live on them from developing.
With the sea in such critical condition,the economy of Sweden is very much affected too, because the most Swedes depend on fish for livelihoods. Although only a few thousand are involved in the business directly, there are lots more who are in association with it.
Massive overfishing as reduced stocks & now pollution is preventing the stocks from replenishing.
The cause of all the pollution comes from Russia, where sewerage systems are overworked & under-serviced. What can be done is to re-do the sewerage system, allowing smoother flow of trash & pollutants to recycling areas.
TOPIC 12: Mercury Poisoning- Siberia
Mercury from a polluted industrial site is is posing a serious threat to the public health & environment. There have been cleaning up efforts, but only minor ones, that were moving so slowly it would take forever to complete. It wil lbecome more dangerous & hazardous come summer, when the mercury will evaporate into the air due to the extreme heat. Then, the residents of the town will be in greatest danger.
Mercury in bodies can cause serious health problems like headaches, respiratory & intestinal diseases & hand tremors. Over time, one could possibly die from mercury poisoning. Mercury affects the central nervous system & kidneys, & what makes it most dangerous & lethal is the fact that it creates non-specific symptoms like difficulty in sleeping, irritation, personality changes & hallucinations.
What the government can do is to take precautionary actions for these situations. For example, now the damage has been done, but there is still much to do to keep it under control & the government has to be a part of it, because a few determined individuals would not make a difference.
TOPIC 13: Cadmium in fertilizers/ peanuts- Oz
Cadmium is a mineral that can be found in peanuts, among other foods. If taken in large amounts, one could suffer from kidney damage. The levels of cadmium in the various foods are being regulated by the ANZFA to ensure that they are safe to eat, even for a big consumer of these products.
Fertilisers contain considerable amounts of cadmium too. Because humans are directly exposed to this much of cadmium, it can pose as a health risk for them. So what is being done now is to reduce the amount of cadmium in fertilisers, limiting its accumulation in soils where it is available for uptake by crops. Too much of cadmium accumulated in human kidneys can cause renal dysfunction.
While we know for a fact that cadmium is an important ingredient in fertilisers, we also have to keep in mind the potential harm it could cause. I think we should find a substitute for cadmium in fertilisers, something that does the job as well as the original substance but without harming humans. Farmers can also make an effort to use fertilisers that are eco-friendly, or keep their farms away from places where there are a lot of people.
TOPIC 14: Bhopal gas tragedy
In December 1984, a highly toxic vapour of methyl isocyanate burst from a pesticide plant. Over 2000 people died immediately & thousands of others were injured. On top of that, over 7000 animals were injured & about a thousand more killed. Victims & casualties of that day are still suffering from the effects of the toxic burst, like complete of partial blindness, gastrointestinal diseases, impaired immune systems & post traumatic disorders.
Thousands of lives were sacrificed because of one small tiny leak in the plant. Is it worth it? This catastrophe could have been avoided if the workers in the plant had taken precautions in preventing leaks like these that is capable of taking lives, no matter how small it is.
Today, the poisonous gases may have passed but it still leaves scars on the people. Besides that, imagine how much the environment was damaged. The high concentration of toxins in the air could not have been good. Plants must have suffered too, including the ozone layer, further depleting it.
TOPIC 15: Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect occurs naturally. Without it, the Earth would be much much colder. However, in recent years, ever-growing emissions of greenhouse gases have contributed to a drastic rise in global temperatures. And because global temperatures have been altered, sea levels have also changed.
Tropical countries can expect more rain. This means that farmers get enough water for their crops. But it may not necessarily be a good thing. This could mean more flooding . People living near the sea may face the danger of being flooded over.
Other countries would face drought, & dry climate all year round. Crops would be destroyed, thus bringing no income to farmers & shortage of food for the city-dwellers. As the temperature rises, people in those countries would be using air-conditioning more, further contributing to the emissions of greenhouse gases.
For this problem, nobody can combat it alone as an individual. A global effort is needed. People can start driving green cars, or organising car pools. Less air-conditioning & using products with lesser harmful substances. What an ordinary person could do is to live by the 3Rs: Reduce, reuse, recycle.
No comments:
Post a Comment