In Norman Wei article about “Managing Environmental Risk”, he first discussed the risks we face in everyday life. As weird as that sounds it is true, we face risks every day. The risk varies from an environmental catastrophe like earthquakes or a car accident on the freeway. Nevertheless, society has taken measures to reduce these undetermined risks. Society has rules and regulations on how fast we can drive in certain areas and warning systems in place to let the public aware of danger. These are all relevant and extremely important procedures, but where is the prevention of risk for our environment? The earth as most people forget is not an unlimited source of free energy. Norman Wei’s article, “Managing Environmental Risks” is intended for …show more content…
It is true most people don’t want to change because of convenience or they are too afraid. Others don’t care what happens to the earth because they won’t be around for it in the future. The importance of life and the protection for the future is important. Our generation will determine the future of this planet and it is up to us to protect it. As he brings up this important topic, he brings up several other important topics and how we should think of different ideas. Wei advises to “think outside the box” (Wei). He furthers his idea as he questions, “What are the risks to the workers when using these chemicals?” (Wei). Then he proposes another question, “What risks do these chemicals pose to the environment if spilled?” (Wei). Posing theses high quality debatable topics of our day in age are …show more content…
As the reader is immovable with his unique and catchy emotional word use, he then placed an unnecessary controversial topic that he should have avoided. After that minor hiccup in his powerful introduction, he uses this build up to bring up several powerful questions about managing environmental risk but they are still very misleading. He talks about risk and how environmental risks should be managed, but it turns out the he was talking about managers of companies looking out for risk in their job to protect companies from losing money. He notes questions they should look out for and how much hazardous wastes should be stored onsite. The author tries to bring these two topics together but confuses readers on exactly what he really means in terms of environmental risk until halfway into the article. Although, Norman Wei brought up great questions, but he did not elaborate enough on certain topics when he mentioned them. He should have provided more detail to why these questions are brought up and how they are relevant. Overall, this article interests the reader from the start with its powerful use of emotion and tone, but quickly comes to a halt. The article should have reached more length and gave more feedback on the topics he presented and the question he left
...d for the general public in order to raise social awareness in preventing polluting the world. It is important to raise social awareness on topics of this nature because it is affecting our world. It is important to consider it as every individual problem and concern rather than see it as an external issue. Saukko chose a whole new approach and technique to get into people’s mind. Usually, authors that want to point out and raise social awareness on issues of this nature, tend to be direct and straightforward about it. However, Saukko has taken it to the next level by approaching the readers in a unique way that will catch more of their attention and hopefully move their emotions on the topic.
The beginning paragraph is what draws many readers to Quammen’s article. He begins with statements implying that environmentalism is a bad thing altogether. For those who are truly against environmental protection, this is an eye-catching statement. They will want to
As you can see, as the economy increases the environments safety deteriorates. As Per Capita Income increases it eventually reaches the Turning Point Income. The turning point income shows that the environment starts to improve with a growth in Per Capita Income consequently decreasing the environmental deterioration that has been made. However, as a country becomes a developed nation it decides to outsource its industries towards developing countries. These developing countries still have a weak economy with little governmental regulation. In effect the environment of these countries are destroyed at the expense of the developed nation’s economy growing stronger. The reason is because developed nations have strict environment regulations and
The problem with pollution prevention is that it requires people to understand more than the intimate details of the production process; they must also understand the technical possibilities. Many corporations have environmental managers, which are generally responsible for helping corporations comply with the law. According to the case study, the work of environmental managers often expose them to many pollution prevention solutions, but they often have trouble getting access to production areas. Production often sees Environmental Managers as "the compliance police".
Her audience is anyone who cares about the world we live in and its long term health. “The world we live in” is a vast category, which includes our entire ecosystem as well as animals and humans. The essay also targets producers and users of chemicals and pesticides used for insect and pest control. In “The Obli...
"...We live in a breakable takeable world, an ever available possible worldÖ" These words, by poet and singer-songwriter Ani Difranco, articulate the relationship between the environment and its inhabitants. Society is constantly manipulating the environment. Our capacity for changing the environment is kept in check by the destructible aspect of nature. The changes we make, those advancements in technology, are limited. While the industrial revolution, per say, is over, industry is ever expanding, moving us into a faster, more efficient lifestyle. However, efficiency and advanced technology are not without their price, and that fee, even more so than monetary in nature, is more accurately quantified by an increased duress on the environment and its inhabitants. As industry expands, waste products increase, and often this waste is toxic to humans, plants, and animals. So-called advancements, such as pesticides, which can greatly increase crop production, may cause chronic health problems. Environmental stressors, such as smelters, chemical plants, incinerators, and landfills all result from efforts to improve the functioning of society, and all have adverse effects on the populations living within proximity of these stressors (Bullard 1994).
The articles “The Environmental issue from hell” by Bill McKibben and “The Obligation to Endure” by Rachel Carson both talk about the environmental consequences that people have caused. However, McKibben writes about Global warming and argues that it is a moral responsibility to preserve the earth, while on the other hand, Carson writes about pollution of the earth caused by man. McKibben article makes good points and supports his claim with facts which makes his article valid. Carson supports her idea with adequate information and factual evidence which also makes her article valid.
Our modern industrial society provides us with great physical and psychological comfort. We live not with a fear for our lives, we are politically stable and dominant; even the terrorist attacks against us cannot strip us of our safety bubble. We live with the luxury of convenience provided by our technologies, such as household appliances, personal computers, indoor heating and plumbing, personal automobiles with “endless fuel” the list is infinite. We live in a disposable society, where it is not commonplace to have material goods fixed, but rather replaced. We have disposable everything, diapers, water bottles, contacts, paintbrushes… again, our convenience is never-ending. This convenient lifestyle coupled with our massive desire for material goods has created immense devastation to the Earth. As time progresses we learn of more tragic outcomes of our lifestyles. I will discuss the major environmental tragedies that are facing our planet and possible solutions to the disasters. I will also give comparative thoughts by a handful of philosophers and dispute our moral obligations to the environment and for those whom occupy it. I feel that we need to do something soon to stop the destruction before it is too late.
The stronger version of the Precautionary Principle on the other hand says that, “positive action must be taken to avoid or mitigate the potential harm; if the harm is judged unacceptable or serious and irreversible” (Beder 2006, p. 70). It also says that there is need for intervention before possible harm occurs or “before certainty about such harm can be achieved” (Beder 2006, p. 70). However, there are some critiques concerning this principle; for instance, there is ignorance and indeterminacy; where indeterminacy is when scientist fails to show the accuracy of the scientific and social assumptions on which our assessment of risk is based (Beder, 2006). There are also scientific uncertainties where scientist cannot inform policy makers the extent of pollutants in an environment and how it will have an impact on the health of people and biotic communities (Beder,
As our world becomes increasingly globalized, numerous people travel to urban areas in search of economic prosperity. As a consequence of this cities in periphery countries expand at rates of 4 to 7 percent annually. Many cities offer entrepreneurs the potential for resources, labor, and resources. With prosperity cities also allow the freedom to of a diversity of way of life and manners (Knox & Marston, 2012). However, in the quest to be prosperous, increasing burdens are placed on our health and the condition of our environment. These burdens are amplified as the area is further urbanized; increasing demands for fossilized fuels, food, water, and property for additional urban construction. The impact of industrialization has transformed human life and produced extensive ecological deviations. In order to understand how the environmental impacts of ever expanding industrialized technology might linger to impact our health and that of our environment, offers facts that should be studied. This paper suggests that extra research be conducted to enhance perception concerning advancing modern technology disadvantageous consequences on the safety of humans and their surrounding environment.
It is clear that at the moment total prevention is virtually impossible. While in EMDC’s hazards may be just an inconvenience (even if it is a very expensive one), whilst it is still a matter of life or death in the developing world. Referring back to Philip Whitfields remark at the beginning, it seems man still remains virtually powerless against nature ,even as we approach the millennium.
Along side the demand for pollution correction, is the desire to create a sustainable future for the generations to come. Throughout human existence, people have trained and refined their youth in hope that their offspring could live a better life than they once did. Consciousness regarding our involvement with the temperamental cli...
Efforts to improve the standard of living for humans--through the control of nature and the development of new products--have also resulted in the pollution, or contamination, of the environment. Much of the world's air, water, and land is now partially poisoned by chemical wastes. Some places have become uninhabitable. This pollution exposes people all around the globe to new risks from disease. Many species of plants and animals have become endangered or are now extinct. As a result of these developments, governments have passed laws to limit or reverse the threat of environmental pollution.
...y need protection? Are we capable of protecting it? We may not be able to protect it but it is a fact that we humans have caused the pollutions and our current environmental catastrophe. When was the last time that a plastic bag stuck in a tree was created by nature? When was the last time that oil naturally “leaked” into the ocean? When was the last time that smog in the air came from plants? You see the effects of it everyday. It is up to us humans to decide whether we should prevent it from getting worse.
Many people assume that the environment is not in danger. They believe that as technology advances, we do not need to worry about renewing natural resources, recycling, and finding new ways to produce energy. They state that one person in the world does not make a large difference. In reality, each individual's contribution greatly affects our environment. Our natural resources are slowly disappearing, and we must work together to save them and the Earth from ruin.