Reading Summaries Blog #4

Life and Death of the Salt Marsh - Section #8
     This section was a small portion from a book written by John and Mildred Teal.  The introduction begins as a tale of the salt marshes, and is highly descriptive.  They describe the differences between a healthy marsh, and a sick marsh, including details such as the odors.  There is also a comparison between north and south marshes, and the functionality of people walking on them.  Another feature the authors describe is what the marshes look like during high and low tides.  John and Mildred go on to emphasize the implications of human exposure to the wetland and marsh ecosystems.  They state that humans directly and indirectly harm the wetlands, through ignorant destruction, and through pollution.  They also propose that the increase in coastal populations will degrade the wetlands even further.  Solutions to maintain the wetlands are offered by the authors, and they state that the wetlands must be preserved almost in entirety if the preservation of the wetlands is to have any real meaning.  In reality, the wetlands are more valuable as wetlands than what has become of them.

Ecosystems and Human Well-being - Section #10
     This reading follows the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment from 2005.  It discusses the fact that in the past 50 years humans have altered ecosystems more than ever before.  The assessment identifies three main issues associated with change and the management of the worlds ecosystems.  These issues are as follows: 1) Approximately 60% of the ecosystems examined are being degraded or used unsustainably; 2) changes being made in ecosystems are increasing the possibility of nonlinear changes in ecosystems; and 3) the harmful effects of the degradation of ecosystem services are being borne disproportionately by the poor, are contributing to growing inequalities, and can lead to poverty and social conflicts.  The assessment shows that there are no simple solutions, however a variety of options to better the sustainable management of ecosystems are available.  Through the use of many examples, the assessment addresses the issues surrounding proper ecosystem management, and highlights the changes that are possible in order to improve management systems.

Living Downstream: An Ecologist looks at Cancer and the Environment - Section #28
     The following selection is a piece taken from a larger work titled Living Downstream: An Ecologist looks at Cancer and the Environment, by Sandra Steingraber.  In this small section, Steingraber talks about her family and the variety of cancer types that several of her family members were diagnosed with.  She presents that humans are susceptible to their environments, and that one of the greatest causes of cancer is environmental exposure.  Personal stories and connections bring Steingrabers words to life.  As well, the quality of detail and description draw the reader into her journey, allowing them to gain a true sense of her experiences.  Steingraber also discusses information on isolated cancer cases, but was unable to find information on a combination of contaminants or encounters.  She goes on to talk about cancer's environmental roots, stating that societies are focused on genes being a major cause of cancer, instead of environments.  The piece finishes off by looking at the principle of the least toxic alternative: an approach that presumes toxic substances will not be used while other options are available.  The reader is able to obtain a clear idea of Steingrabers experiences and views from this short section of the her book. 

Our Stolen Future - Section #29
     This article from the textbook focuses on how chemicals have become a part of the human's environment and are ultimately becoming a part of their bodies.  The authors state that people forget that their well-being is rooted in natural systems, since people live in man-made landscapes.  The article compares the concept of synthetic chemical testing on animals to the actual effects of these chemicals on humans.  The notion is presented that animal testing is inaccurate since test animals are not humans.  The authors prove this idea with evidence showing that hormone disruptor's that threaten animals pose the same threat on human populations.  The article demonstrates that animal studies provide an outlet for identifying and investigating what might occur in humans.  It also displays that animal studies can deliver early warnings about the serious implications of synthetic chemicals.  Overall, this article was well organized and factual, and offered an in-depth look into the issues that synthetic chemicals pose on societies today and in the future.

Environmental Justice for All - Section #31
     This section focuses on the global issue of environmental justice: inequitable environmental burdens.  Robert D. Bullard suggests that pollution problems generally target the less affluent and poverty stricken communities of the world.  He discusses a series of summits that were held in order to improve the standard of living for people in less wealthy communities.  Bullard also looks at specific environmental justice cases, such as Bean versus Southwestern Waste Management.  Through a series of examples Bullard is able to emphasize environmental justice issues and their impacts.  He presents the triumphs of environmental justice strategies, while displaying the struggles associated with its implementation.  Bullard finishes by stating that in order for environmental justice to be achieved, there must be equal protection for impoverished communities, and that all people deserve to be supported and protected from the filth of pollution.