Reflection: Weeks 7 & 8

Weeks 7 & 8 brought up some very interesting subjects that I hadn't really been exposed to.

In week 7 we watched a video called "Green".  The video concentrated on cities that sat on the banks of the Mississippi in the southern part of the states, a place dubbed "cancer alley".  It received this nickname because of all the huge chemical production plants that also situated themselves on the Mississippi.  These chemicals are leeching into the water, and into the air, and dramatically decreasing the quality of life for the members of the communities surrounding them.  These communities face higher rates of cancer, asthma, and other negative health effects.  The people affected cry out for help from their local and state government, and from the companies producing the problems, but are ignored.  Their very legitimate concerns are pooh-poohed, and dismissed with hardly a thought.  Why?  Because the companies are making a profit, because the companies have the power, the wealth, and the voice, because they think of these communities as expendable.  Well I think these communities are people like everyone else and no one can put a price on a life.  No one can make the decision that a certain population is disposable.  This documentary highlighted environmental racism, that is the idea that those of lower socioeconomic status and living in minority communities are more exposed to harmful environmental afflictions.  This is in part because rules and regulations are loosely enforces at best for this industries of pollution.  This documentary really lit my injustice light.  How can these things be happening?  And on top of that, how can these things be ignored?

After the movie we were put into two groups: those representing the chemical production companies, and those representing the affected communities.  I was placed on the side of industry.  It was hard to do but when I started thinking as if I were in their shoes it's easy to see why they do it:  they get away with it, they aren't affected by it, and they make a profit.  I would think at some point morality and ethics would set in, but clearly that is not the case.  It's just so hard to change this cycle of injustice.  What can anyone do?  I feel just as powerless as those communities.  I honestly believe that before anything changes, our culture has to make some big changes.  Anyway, the video gave me a lot to think about, and a lot to be thankful about as far as the quality of air I breath and the quality of water I drink, things I would normally take for granted.

In week 8 we watched another documentary called "Thirst".  This film shed some light on the privatization of water issue that's taking place around the world.  I had no idea this was even an issue until this past Monday.  Although the video gave us a good idea of what's happening I still have so many questions!  How can anyone "own" the water supply?  Whose is it to sell off in the first place?  Why dose the world bank have their claws in EVERYTHING?!  It really sucks that water privatization is happening in the states, but it's even more under handed that it's happening in places like India.  How is it that companies like Coca Cola, and Pepsi are draining water right from under homes in India and then selling it back to them for profit?  Water being more expensive for these people than milk is out of control.  I just loved how the video showed individuals in higher positions saying things like "We will sell the water at affordable prices".  How do they determine what is affordable for some of the poorest people on earth?  I just get so ticked off when I see all these big figure heads from the world bank and such places making these decisions.  I mean they live a pretty cozy life, so they don't stand to lose anything from the decisions they make about water rights and rather are bound to make profitable gains.  I found a really comprehensive article on water privatization and in it, it says, "Fortune magazine has predicted that "water is the oil of the 21 century" and corporations are rushing to invest in the water business."  It also stated that, "The World Bank predicts that by 2025, two-thirds of the world's population will suffer from lack of clean and safe drinking water."  I think we all better start standing up for our right to water for life and not for profit before we have to pay an arm and a leg to boil macaroni noodles, or make kool-aid!  My favorite quote from the film was by the man from Bolivia. He said "The people united will not be defeated."  Considering the water crisis that may be in our near future these seem like appropriate words to take to heart.