POLLUTION -ITS EFFECT IN OUR ENVIRONMENT/HEALTH

One of the downside of our progressive life is the creation of so many industries that not only pollute the earth but known to have a very negative health impact in our lives.

In 1970, the US Environmental Protection Agency was formed and last year has 15, 913 employees with a $7.901 billion dollar annual budget.

It was primarily conceived and created for the purpose of protecting human health and the environment during the Reagan's administration.

Today, it prides itself in creating and maintaining the national standards on the enforcement of laws for the said purpose.

But this is only in the US. The purpose of this blog is to create awareness for us all citizens of the world to participate and cooperate in such an astronomical responsibility, after all, we have only one earth, yet so far that sustains human life that we know of. While science has a continued effort and success in finding so many similar planets that can sustain life, it is not clear yet as to how we can reach those planets to become habitable for us human.

I am inspired to create this blog due to the enormous negative impact of other countries who might not have the same programs like we do. I am very aware that in some third world countries like my birth country, the Philippines, pollution is one of the worst problem we have when it comes to human health.

Our population growth is rising fast, yet we are not globally united in this effort that I know of. In fact I am aware how most of us are not taking the responsibility seriously expecting the government to do it all for us. I read the new law under the Obama administration on checking the new system of extracting gas from under the surface of the earth called FRACKING.

Any opinions on how we can contribute to this growing concern? And what can we do specifically in our place to create awareness and responsibility? What would happen if we continue to harm our environment?

Thank you all for your contributions, opinions and comments.
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Comments (112)

Lindsey...u know sometimes I wonder why people like u put so much effort and time writing stuff we can do nothing about..the corporates...don't waste your energy..we all have limited time here....including the human race..when we disappear another strange breed of live will take over...let's all do something useful instead if blogging in out houses....get done exercise and do some charity work ...help others.
Note to self...spell check ??
With due respect Ian, I think we do have a power as individual citizens to do in cases like this. We can, in our simple way, clean up our acts first by not contributing to the pollution itself. Now one of the big question I have living in California is the emission system. The tax charged on the use of the air is outrageous and yet if you think about it, it is one way of controlling and discouraging the people from 1. Not driving but take the bus. 2. Ride a bicycle 3. Move out of California.

Now why other states are not imposed on such laws? Make me wonder..

thanks Ian.
Hi Lindsy.. wave

Last time I was on the moon, there was a few robotics left behind there.. and a keg of beer too. lol

okay, just kidding with you..

Interesting blog. Remember everyone, RECYCLE.. that's right.. fix your old bicycles. grin

I wish you lots of smiles, Lindsy. hug
On the charity work, yes to that Ian. In fact, I was decided about 10 years ago that if I retired I would have donated my effort and time to the Red Cross and or the UN for the eradication of poverty and ignorance but I lost everything on the global meltdown Ian and so I have stayed on the work force longer, although right now I am considering some focus to that direction.

Thank you again.

And by the way, the front page on the News the other day is the creation of a body that will study the use of fracking in the shale oiling or mining..It is such a coincidence that you mentioned that on your previous blog.

Thanks again.
Hi Robert, thanks for dropping by. yes recycle and we can have a better air. Which of course remind me Robert that when I lived in Bakersfield for 7 years, did you know the capital of the nation on worst air is in the San Joaquin Valley? Our insurance was ten times higher than here in the North Bay, can you believe that?

Thanks Robert.
Yes, Lindsy..

the pollution drops in our valley like a bowl at times.. it comes from the bigger cities and settles here.. of course, not as bad as some California cities. Most studies as you mention are a little flawed, because they mostly base the pollution on smog ratio to area size and population.

Whatever happens, California is still a great place to be, in my opinion. Yeah! applause

Have a nice night. tip hat
Of course Robert, don't get me wrong I love our state, just that I wish big cities like LA and SF would be just a little less populated, but not as bad as New York and or Tokyo, that is for sure..

Thanks again Robert..your story is so great..you should write a book or become a contributor on some major magazines?
@ lindsyjones - I noticed that you mentioned that Australia is a much cleaner place..... this has happened because BHP has shut down some or most of it's steel making operations at Port Kembla, Newcastle and other locations on the premise that it's cheaper to produce steel in other countries. The real truth is that the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) laws have squeezed them out of this country and have moved them to places like China and other Asian countries whereby they can operate to their heart's content, yes they are producing steel cheaper but by reducing pollution in Australia they have just moved it to another global location..... blues moping .... grin hug wine
Hans how are you? Yes Hans, in fact if I would have a choice, I would love to come and live and die in your beautiful country. But not in Sydney Hans. Mostly like in the North part like Daintree forest. Have you ever been there? The trees, mile high Hans. I have written so many poems about the religious feelings I had while staying there for at least 30 days. Barron falls in Kuranda, Mossman, Ingam, Bundaberg. The country up north is such a heavenly place if you ask me. Not like Hawaii, where I lived, before settling down here in the mainland.

But I also participated in the one day clean act time Hans. I can't believe how the parks are all equipped with free stoves, even electricity and filtered waters. The bathroom in Sydney? Talking and every ten minutes it closes out on you? Amazing Hans.
I sent a responce to the Phillipine tourist about the pollution not that it will proberbly do anything but a felt better lol
Additional question for you Hans. Even if this corporate pollutants moved to Asia, the thing is the same air that circulates globally affects us all, doesn't it?

The scary part that we take for granted is the fact that the record of having the earth getting warmer and warmer is progressing to a rather faster speed, considering the recorded activity in the last 20 years..

Thanks again Hans.
@ lindsyjones - wave ... I try to stay away from Sydney because I don't like big cities even though I worked there for many years.....

I have not been much further north than Brisbane but hope to do so one day.... with (cat. 4) cyclone Ida about to hit the area tomorrow, I wouldn't want to be there just now.... blues

And yes, that is what Imeant with my post, they just move the problem elsewhere.... moping

...... grin hug wine
Yes Sydney is beautiful if you live in Karabilly Hans. I love Port Stephens and Soldier Bay..too..Anywhere in the North. Even at Collangatta. I also stayed there for 30 days..Beautiful..

Yes, now if all of the countries in the world would unite for this effort, I think we can truly achieve a balanced and healthy environment Hans. But greed always supersedes any good deed, that is for sure..
its the non compostable things such as plastic that I hate. Same thing may work if was place to then dispose of it properly
I have not been there for ten years now Fun and planning on going this November as the weather would be a bit nicer. But yes, plastic is such a culprit and I wish that recycling program would be enforced like us here in the US.
lind
Anyone can make a difference such as recycling or taking the bus, walking or car pool...city planners should encorporate environmental strategies as well...do we really need to drive to get from point A to B...or maybe more pressure on government to promote more environmental strategies or incentives in regards to transportation...however I can see the big oil industries having a problem with that...
@ lindsyjones - Below are a couple of pics from my last visit to Port Stephens d'Albora marina.... grin


Embedded image from another site



Leaving the marina:

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..... grin hug wine
loulou77 that is so but when you see the poverty and amount of people in one place you understand the cheaper polluting transport. Theres a lot needs doing, to much for the economy to deal with.
Governments all over the world have some how turned an issue of compassion and responsibility into an issue major taxation.
We now pay So much in my country on taxes that there is very little left for daily essentials. Given the fact that as they say
"a happy nation are a productive nation"
Then I say an unhappy one is destructive. Ergo we can assume these taxes are only going to have an adverse effect and hungry and cold people care only about their immediate environment with food and warmth in a survival context rather than the subject of affectable ecology and future projection.

It does not surprise either that a quick peep behind the curtain will spy you the Idea that most of the companies profiting from Carbon taxes are the major contributors of pollution.

Add to this the fact of carbon trading and the whole system becomes a sham.

Although I must admit this comment is off the top of my head and I do need to read up on the issue..

A great subject LJ. Food for the soul indeed.. wave hug
fun
Many countries now cannot sell banned substances to other countries with lax laws of polluting...governments of any nation that are wealthy enough should come to the aid of poorer countries to find solutions to end poverty or strategies to make life more breathable...more healthcare dollars spent on citizens if these pollutants are available...so it can make economical sense...however I see what you mean...but richer countries and companies should not exploit the poor...
Hans, now you just made me want to come and visit again. I know that the size is far bigger than that of Sydney harbor and I stayed for one week in Nelson Bay and Shoal Bay, and then the only place I have seen my US Flag Hans is there in Port Stephens, with the whitest beach on the area..Much like Boracay and Waikiki..Not windy like in Bondi Beach...

Well thank you so much Hans..No pollution that I have ever seen..Very clean and very country..
Lou my friend, how are you?

Yes, with 7 billion people on the planet, if we are united and committed with one goal and we can get a very good reward by contributing to the non pollution like you said, why not provide free bicycles and even pay us for riding them? The recycling of plastic is a joke. They charged us when we go and buy these products and then hardly return back our money when we recycle them? that is a joke if you ask me.

thanks my friend..
but theres the all the militry and wars to fund , so not right.
Recycling is an illusion, everyday our waste fills the land and the ocean, pollutes the ground water kills sea life. It appears out of sight out of mind.
It all needs to start at the concept stage for any product. Even Henry Ford's mass produced car's used soya products. Then what happened plastic.
We are slowly killing the environment, but those who profit from it don't care less because it fattening their bank account.
China and India are showing the effects of uncontrolled production.
In fact your response to Fun, Lou is my direction. Other countries specially the economically up ones like the first world, must consider giving the initiative for this purpose because like I said, 7 billion US dollars on the budget here? But how about the rest of the world? Why not truly check all the countries and since it is one earth, one planet. My cousin was involved in the oil spill in Africa and told me, how pathetic, the way they manage this problems Lou. Now when Exxon Valdez spilled in Alaska, not only they were ordered to clean it up better than before the spill but that they were made to pay billions of dollars to the US government..
lind
You are right...one planet says it all...we are all responsible...not just select countries...and such companies should put as much effort in the clean up to other areas and not get away with it because some countries lack policies in regards to environment...a global initiative...wine
Bingo my friend. That's it. It is amazing just like Hans said, they moved them to Asia for the Corporate's content on dumping all pollution unchecked yet it is the same air that circulates globally, and we are all affected. On one of the publication of National Geographic, Mt. Andes in South America has melted all its glaciers and it is receding fast, the same thing in Alaska.

Go figure my dear..
Doc thank you for your contribution on this terrifying sight. I am almost throwing up just looking at it. It is disgusting and disturbing to say the least.

Where was this at? If I may ask. One time, there was a documentary shown about the litters and thrash that are left at the border of US and Mexico and it is very similar.
lind
Stores are now charging for plastic bags...many are giving the practice up and relying on cloth bags for items bought...a small step but I imagine the reduction of plastic can be beneficial if other countries do the same...is this a practice in California?
Some are now heavily imposed my dear Lou, in fact in the North Bay, specifically in San Francisco, it is completely banned, the use of plastic bag in the grocery stores. On boutique shoppes, they charge for every bag you use.

We are not quite banned on most of the States, that I know of and even in the most part of California but there is a growing awareness of people as I see more often people bringing their own bags..

Yes elimination of this plastic alone is such a relief. Now I am a coffee drinker, but for heaven's sake, the size and the quality of plastic used by Starbucks? They should really pay a lot of money to the government for such a ludicrous use of those giant cups Lou.

Now I like the idea of bottle and bring your own cup..what about that?
The only real answer to this problem is human extinction which is coming. While we talk about pollution were all guilty to some point.
When all the oil, gas, minerals are extracted. The water, land and air polluted. Genetic codes unraveling. What use will that $100k car or $5m house be, just more junk.
It is still good to see the African bushman still living sustainably as they have since our early ancestors. But they too will be affected because of our wants not just needs.
LOULOU,

Lets hope Human sacrifice stays in the history books. laugh
mr
Now that is a downer...extinction?...I think it is a change in ways of thinking...a simple, back to basics way of living...
non
yes...I agree!!wine
My dear Lou, I am so insightful of your thinking. But to tell you the truth, I might take on the job that is offered for me in Peru. A consultant for the mining industry on how to implement some prevention of pollution? Maybe. Yes we should really go back to basic..
MrWilling,
"human extinction which is coming."

What sort of Dogma is that to carry around doh

Civilisation may end as we know it. But human extinction is a far way off. we are still tied to nature, and natures best asset is adaptation.

Although I tend to agree we are somewhat parasitic toward Earth rather than symbiotic wave

Keep the faith my brother.
lind
That sounds exciting...and a way to aid in the environment...are you seriously thinking about it?wine
I take your point non, but I see we're past that tipping point.
It's no weight for me, it's just observations and historical fact.
Take the great wars for example, where there was once total obliteration, now fields of crops,aanyone considered the amount of lead present in the soil making it's way in the food chain?
Chemicals dumped at sea, atmospheric, land and water based nuclear testing. GM food production.
I could write pages worth, but I will enjoy everyday I live. Adaptability is only as good as the environment. Extinction is the next phase.
MrWilling,
"human extinction which is coming."

What sort of Dogma is that to carry around doh

Civilisation may end as we know it. But human extinction is a far way off. we are still tied to nature, and natures best asset is adaptation.

Although I tend to agree we are somewhat parasitic toward Earth rather than symbiotic wave

Keep the faith my brother.
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Now there is a great wisdom on that revelation Non, parasitic instead of a complimentary existence, I do for you, you do for me...principle. And think about the enemy of nature Non.

Remember, the MAMMOTH TREES ONLY FOUND FOUR HOURS AWAY FROM ME? The Sequoia trees from National Geographic? Destroyed by a big fire last summer. Those are million years old Non. So we should and must truly be the stewards of this one and only earth we call home Non...
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lindsyjones

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I am here for the blogs and poetry writing. I learn a lot from the dynamics of the discussions. Part of my lifetime learning.

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