I recently attended a showing of Flow: For the Love of Water in Columbus, Ohio, and I was immediately brought back to my days of living in Australia under a ‘drought’, taking bucket showers in India and turning on the tap in Costa Rica and not hearing the slightest trickle of water.

Upon seeing the film my mind raced to the ‘purified’ city water I drink when in the States and the other, not-so-purified water I consume abroad. Water doesn’t only enter into your body through the mouth; showering in bacteria or heavy metal-laden water is just as toxic to the system. Nonetheless, the reality of the matter is that THE AMOUNT OF FRESH WATER ON THIS PLANET IS DWINDLING, and H2O is surely in our top three needs for survival.

To quote a Boston news review of the movie, “Who knew that our drinking water was tainted with rocket fuel, or that between 500,000 and seven million people in this country [USA] suffer from water-bourne diseases every year?” The film centers in on privatization of water among other issues, as we are not only losing the minute amount of fresh water remaining on the planet, but that which exists is being readily bought and sold as a commodity. Capitalism has a way of commodifying basic human needs and rights. Health-care and food have already become numbers in the money mill, and water is just too elemental to the human body to Capitalize.

The film also touches upon contamination of the few large freshwater resources on the planet as well as the true quality and regulation of bottled water. A reviewer of the film took a step further in analysis. “The overarching theme here is that the Earth’s freshwater supply is being contaminated, sucked dry and ‘privatized’ for the benefit of huge corporations that are establishing themselves as the heirs to the oil cartels.”

The polemic nature of the film comes on strong and moves the viewer to worry a bit, but if this leads to critical thought, then I’m a happy camper. This post is not meant to strike a note of panic but rather to ring an alarm, a wake-up call to the factors at play in the world of today. I encourage all readers everywhere to make an effort to catch the film, either rent it, buy it or check it out from your nearest library. Just be aware of the issue and think ahead a few generations to your living and potential offspring. What will their life be like on dry land? What can we do today to make sure the waterfall of life keeps on flowing?

“Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change – this is the rhythm of living. Out of our over-confidence, fear; out of our fear, clearer vision, fresh hope. And out of hope, progress.” -Bruce Barton

Accidents can happen, as we all know, but how many can be prevented?  Mistakes happen as well, but aren’t we supposed to learn from them?  These are the questions oil companies, such as BP, the company responsible for this spill, should be seriously considering.  The last several years has seen many oil spills, environmentally degraded oil fields and other areas, and oil has also played major roles in wars and governments.  Therefore, mistakes and accidents are obviously magnified given the front stage position oil companies have. 

Royal Dutch Shell is another major oil company that is guilty of heavy pollution.  Since the early 90’s this company has been polluting the Niger delta in Nigeria, and done nothing about it.  In 1993, there was a two-month long oil spill in the Southeastern part of the Niger Delta that Shell did nothing to stop.  According to Greenpeace, “Shell pays the fines, then continues to do so.”

Another oil spill most everyone is familiar with was the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska in 1989.  Again, this was another sensitive and complex ecosystem that was dramatically harmed by the oil tanker running aground a spilling its contents.   What came of this could be considered a success story, so to speak.  In the book by Jared Diamond, Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, he talks of a moment he was visiting an oil field under the Chevron oil company.  He was out bird watching, walking along one of the roads when he was called into the office of a safety representative.  “I had been noticed stepping several feet out into the roadway to observe a bird.  That posed the hazard that a vehicle might hit me, or that in swerving to avoid hitting me it might crash into an oil pipeline at the side of the road and cause an oil spill,” says Diamond.

Now, we have BP, a company who almost merged with Shell not long ago, despite Shell’s reputation.  The oil rig that exploded, the Deepwater Horizon, represents this paradigm.  BP apparently has a history of safety violations and other serious accidents that they have been fined for.  According to an article by the World Sentinel BP, “could have utilized backup safety equipment (i.e., a remote switch that might have stopped the flow of oil at its source) some 5,000 feet below the surface of the ocean.  While the device is not mandated under U.S. law, it is often used in the industry and required in other parts of the world where BP drills.”

An old saying, “history repeats itself” comes to mind.  However, this should not be the case with catastrophic events.  These accidents could have been prevented, and when that failed, the mistakes should have been rectified.  When are oil companies going to take responsibility for their actions, or start taking the necessary precautions?    We have the technology, we have the ability.  It is time for a change.

Did you ever, or should I ask, do you ever question yourself about the food you eat, especially the meat? Before you continue, know that I am not a vegetarian in practice…But in truth, the way we live starts with the food we eat. The food we eat is bought (presumably) at a retail store: that retail store is buying food from wholesalers: wholesalers are buying the food from the meat packagers, and they get it from the people (if not themselves) who raise the animals. Now, this industry, like most all others, is a business, out to make money, and because it is out to make money it has to be efficient. To be efficient means to cut costs and maximise production. If you are not familiar with contemporary history, think Britain in the Mid to Late Eighties: this is the end result of optimisation and drives for money. And we, the consumers are the end, and yet the most important link in the chain.

Animals being feed other animals (in the US this is banned from Cattle [enforced?], but other animals such as poultry, swine etc…may eat parts of other animals), leads to problems. Yet, stopping this means a reduction in profits.  Now, let’s assume that we are all on the same page of health over money: then guess what? We can make that happen. Every item bought organically is a vote, yes I quote from Food Inc.; every item we buy is what is going to determine what the customer wants: and if that means that other, ill-raised animals who aren’t bought as much, will be eventually a thing of the past. I cannot think of a part in history that has so many problems with their animals, for in the past animals were grazers and thus nature prevailed: the occurrence of problems that we see today is no result of the times, but a result of people, and business.

Please think carefully when you go to the store to buy: I am writing this blog, on this subject, in regards to a little girl, and all of the other young people who have contracted illnesses, and including but not limited to New Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.

I believe people were intended to eat meat, surely, but not like this, and not with such a potential terrible price to pay. Buying green really makes a difference in business practice: and yes, it is a pretty penny to pay, but certainly, an emptier wallet is as good of a price to pay as any for a change in the world.

For more information, please google Charlene Singh, and other related stories.

Here is the comparison of eight environmental issues over a year ago:

Source: Gallup

There is no definite answer as to why Americans are now less concerned about environment related issues. One of the reason could be that environmental situation is improving in the country. The other reason could be the state of the current economy. Most people are worried about jobs and dealing with worsening financial situations. Also, number of initiatives taken at federal, state, and local level may have helped reduce environmental related concerns.

Source: Gallup Poll

Photo Source: Andy Keir

According to the recent CountryWatch report, most countries around the word face many common environmental challenges. These issues not just adversely affect the quality of human life, but also threatens the sustainability of human life. Technology advancements, international cooperation, and public participation have made notable environmental progress. However, the work is still in progress and further continued efforts are needed to combat some of the major imminent environmental issues.

Higher poverty and increased population growth in the developing countries have resulted in the significant natural resources depletion. In contrast, developed countries have made some progress in reducing environmental pollution and the rate of resources depletion. However, the environmental progress in the developed countries is offset by the higher level of consumption per capita.

Here are the highlights of the current environmental situations facing each region in the word:

Africa

Although the quality of Africa’s natural resources is extraordinarily rich, the uneven geographical distribution makes the continent at great risk of desertification. The inefficient farming methods, overgrazing, and a climatic pattern of recurrent droughts have resulted in up to half a billion hectares of African land moderately to severely degraded. Soil degradation is also severe in most of the areas in the continent. Africa contains about 17 percent of the world’s forest cover, but majority of the forests are severely depleted with approximately 70 percent showing some sort of degradation.

The sustainable agriculture has made some success lately, but further progress is needed. Population growth has resulted in the loss of arable land. As a result, concerns over deforestation is increasing in some areas. The biological diversity is also compromised throughout the Africa, threatening mammal species in the region. The mammals are at high risk especially in the Mauritania and Madagascar where over 20 percent of the mammal species are currently under threat. The growing marine catch trends has increased the concerns about the reduction in fisheries and marine life if proper actions are not taken in near future. The central Africa has plenty of water resources. However, northeastern Africa faces a serious concern of water resources vulnerability.

Asia and the Pacific

Nine of the 14 word’s largest urban areas are in the Asia-Pacific region. The report classification included Australia in the Asia-Pacific region. The report highlights number of key points for the region. Asian timber reserves are expected to be depleted in the next 40 years. The loss of natural forest is seen as irreversible in some areas. However, tree plantation programs may improve a portion of resulting land degradation.

Higher amount of fossil fuel usage in China and other parts of southern Asia is projected to result in increased carbon dioxide emission. The air pollution in the region has caused upsurge due to the increased use of energy. The acidification issue is a major concern in the region. Sulfur dioxide emissions are expected to triple by 2010 if the current growth is continued. China, Thailand, India, and Korea are at high risk of acid deposition. Water shortage is a major concern surrounding the Indian subcontinent.

In the Pacific, water pollution is a serious issue. About 70 percent of the water discharged receives no treatment. The areas around Australia suffer the largest degree of ozone depletion. The global warming and rise in the sea levels have resulted in the land loss in the micro-states of the Pacific region.

Central Asia

One of the major environmental issue in the region is the storage of several billion tons of hazardous material in landfills across Central Asia. The region also faces many environmental challenges such as drought, water shortages, and soil salinization. Use of pesticides, such as DDT and other chemicals have contributed to contamination of soil and ground water throughout the region. Inappropriate irrigation practices has caused increased salinization. Air pollution is widely spread, primarily because of the use of low octane automobile fuel. Desertification is also a major environmental issue in the region.

Europe

The higher industrialization has created many environmental challenges in the region. Acid rain, Greenhouse gas emission, deforestation, overexploitation, air and water pollution, and wildlife extinction are some of the environmental issues in Europe. The region is a major contributor of chlorofluorocarbon emissions (36%), carbon dioxide emissions (30%), and carbon dioxide emissions (25%) in the world. Higher amount of Sulfur and nitrogen oxide emissions have caused 30 to 50 percent of deforestation in Central and Eastern Europe.

Acid rain has been a major environmental concern for decades. Acid rain continues to be a challenge in parts of Western Europe. Overexploration (up to 60%) of groundwater is a concern for industrial and urban areas in Europe. Wildlife extinction, especially decline in fish stock is a major environmental issue. According to some estimates, up to 50 percent of Europe’s fish species may be considered endangered.

On the positive side, Europian countries have adopted and implemented many measures such as cleaner production technologies and alternative waste disposal including recycling to combat environmental challenges. The countries in the Eastern Europe have made air quality a major environmental priority.

The Middle and Near East

The major concern in the region is water scarcity. The increased usage and demand is putting additional pressure on scarce water resources throughout the region. For example, the Dead Sea has shrunk one-third from its original surface area because of the river diversions and industrial salt works. Water pollution as a result of oil spills is also an issue. The average oil spills in the region is 1.2 million barrels per year. Oil spill cleanup helps, but leaves environmental damage to the food webs and marine life ecosystems for a prolonged period.

Latin America and the Caribbean

The increased population and urban areas have caused many environmental challenges in the region. The projected extinction of up to 100,000 species in next few decades highlights the concern for biodiversity in the region, with majority of loss is expected to occur in the Amazon area. Soil erosion, salinization, alkalinization and overgrazing have caused up to 50 percent of region’s soil lose its soil fertility. Agriculture wastes have contaminated the Caribbean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean. The water pollution affects fish stocks, contributes to oxygen depletion and fosters overgrowth of aquatic vegetation. Industrial growth has caused many beaches of eastern Latin America and the Caribbean suffer from tar deposits.

Deforestation is a major concern especially in the Amazon Basin, which may significantly contribute to the risk of global warming or greenhouse gases. Soil erosion and landslides on the steep rainforest slopes of Caribbean islands result in heavy sedimentation of nearby river systems. The sedimentary rivers adversely affecting coral tissues in the sea and coral reefs, resulting in marine degradation and nutrient depletion. Intense ozone depletion in the southern hemisphere causing Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay suffer from increased ultraviolet-B radiation.

North America

Highly developed nations such as the United States and Canada in the North America due to the high industrialization pose many environmental challenges. Efforts to promote energy efficiency, recycling, and others have helped reduce the strain on environmental in the region. However, higher consumption level, increasing land development, and preferences for larger vehicles have offset these advancements.

The United States in particularly due to the significantly higher motor vehicle usuage compared to the rest of the world is responsible for contributing urban air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions that is disproportionately high in relation to its population. The northeastern part of the United States, bordering with Canada continues to suffer from Acid rain issue. The lack of proper emission controls, Mexico’s urban area suffer from extreme air pollution from carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and other toxic air pollutants. Many Mexico’s cities discharge large amounts of untreated or poorly treated sewage.

The deforestation is a concern in various parts of the U.S., especially in the northwestern coastline. The north coast of California has experienced high level of soil erosion due to the extreme weather conditions in recent years. Nitrate contamination of well water, nutrient runoff to waterways, and pesticide exposure contribute to significant agriculture pollution in various areas. The issue is especially serious in California’s Central Valley, extensive stretches of the Midwest, and land in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The depletion of various already endangered or threatened species, most notably the declining fish stock is a major environmental issue in the United States and Canada. Policies to decrease trends in catching marine fish have resulted in measurable encouraging results.

On the positive side, efforts at reducing water pollution by governmental, commercial and community representatives have improved water quality in waterways, especially around the Great Lakes. Strict policies to curb industrial effluents and near-universal implementation of sewage treatment are considered the chief factors responsible for this improvement.

Polar

The melting of the Arctic ice sheets because of the global warming has resulted in significant rise in sea level, with 10 to 25 centimeters in the last 100 years. The region also suffers from a major ozone hole. Environmental measures have been put into effect to reverse ozone depletion, with expectations to achieve significant result by 2050. The Arctic attracts toxic release discharges from thousands of miles away, resulting in higher bodily levels of contaminants such as PCB and dioxin in Arctic wildlife and Canada’s Inuit population.

Source: CountryWatch.com

Source: flickr

The use of electrical and electronic devices worldwide has been rapidly increasing. People tend to buy latest electronic products and discard their used  items. The compound growth of electronic devices has created a serious problem – e-waste. Discarded electronic devices such as personal computers, printers, mobile phones, televisions and refrigerators are considered electronic waste or e-waste. The United States is the major e-waste producer with 3 million tons per year, followed by China that produces 2.3 million tons per year.

The e-waste is considred more dangerous due to the hazardous elements involved in manufacturing of electronic devices. These elements could be harmful to the environment and public health after such devices are discarded. In addition, the use of precious metals such as copper, palladium, gold, and silver in the manufacturing of these devices causes depletion of useful natural resources. Due to the inappropriate recycling infrastructure to handle e-waste, valuable resources are lost. This issue is often overlooked.

Most of the e-waste generated in developed countries such as United States ends up in developing countries like China and India. The lack of awareness about handing e-waste and legislation in developing countries put people in these countries at significant risks. According to the recent report released by United Nations Environment Programme, if appropriate actions are not taken immediately, many developing countries will face the danger of hazardous “e-waste mountains” with serious consequences for the environment and public health. “This report gives new urgency to establishing ambitious, formal and regulated processes for collecting and managing e-waste via the setting up of large, efficient facilities in China,” says UN Under-Secretary-General Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP. “China is not alone in facing a serious challenge. India, Brazil, Mexico and others may also face rising environmental damage and health problems if e-waste recycling is left to the vagaries of the informal sector.”

The report titled “Recycling – from E-Waste to Resources,”compiled data from 11 developing countries to estimate current and future e-waste generation. The report focused on old and dilapidated desk and laptop computers, printers, mobile phones, pagers, digital photo and music devices, refrigerators, toys and televisions. The report projects that e-waste from old computers in South Africa and China will have jumped by 200 to 400 percent from 2007 levels, and by 500% in India. E-waste from discarded mobile phones will be about 7 times higher than 2007 levels in China and, in India, it is project to be 18 times higher.

Below is e-waste statistics from the UN report:

• Global e-waste generation is growing by about 40 million tons a year
• Manufacturing mobile phones and personal computers consumes 3 per cent of the gold and silver mined worldwide each year; 13 per cent of the palladium and 15 per cent of cobalt
• Modern electronics contain up to 60 different elements – many valuable, some hazardous, and some both
• Carbon dioxide emissions from the mining and production of copper and precious and rare metals used in electrical and electronic equipment are estimated at over 23 million tonnes – 0.1 percent of global emissions (not including emissions linked to steel, nickel or aluminum, nor those linked to manufacturing the devices)
• In the US, more than 150 million mobiles and pagers were sold in 2008, up from 90 million five years before
• Globally, more than 1 billion mobile phones were sold in 2007, up from 896 million in 2006
• Countries like Senegal and Uganda can expect e-waste flows from PCs alone to increase 4 to 8-fold by 2020.
• Given the infrastructure expense and technology skills required to create proper facilities for efficient and environmentally sound metal recovery, the report suggests facilitating exports of critical e-scrap fractions like circuit boards or betteries from smaller countries to OECD-level, certified end-processors.

The report encourages to turn e-waste into resources through sustainable e-waste recycling technologies. The innovative technologies must take care of hazardous/toxic substances contained in e-waste in an environmentally sound manner while preventing secondary and tertiary emissions. The technology should also help recover valuable materials as effectively as possible. Finally, create economically and environmentally sustainable businesses.

The report was timed with the UNEP’s Governing Council meeting in Bali, Indonesia occurring from February 24 – 26. To view the full UNEP’s e-waste report, visit UNEP Report