The Smaller Stories

Please Read First:
1. Diabetes is a Time Bomb in the Arctic Research Shows Pollutants linked to Type 2 Diabetes http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/06667_diabetes_is_a_time_bomb/

2. New Study Warns of Arctic Mercury Pollution: http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5g1c7x73hsUhq24krg1-3ceMSkLVg

3. Environmental Illness in Kids Costs Billions: http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/EnvironmentalHealth/26306

So I know the above request seems like I am providing you a homework assignment, but these articles help give a bit of context to this post. The three articles above highlight a point that is grossly overlooked in media. There are always stories and debates on the hot topics. Right now it is nuclear power, last year it was climate change, and of course now that oil prices are rising again there are discussions about renewables, fracking, and drilling. However, there is rarely great focus put on the health impacts caused by environmental pollution (this of course is demonstrated by the fact that the 3 sources above that ran the stories are clearly not mainstream in America).

Although the threat of a nuclear disaster is dangerous and must be addressed, it is an example of a large catastrophic event that statistically has a small chance of impacting most Americans. However, the issue of chemical pollution, where mercury and toxins consistently make their way into our air and water supply, is virtually guaranteed to affect our lives.

There are no easy answers or quick fixes to this problem. Much of this pollution comes from the factories that make the goods we use, the food we eat, and the power we use in our homes. However, there are solutions and the longer it takes our society make the necessary changes, the great the cost.

I urge you to read the stories above and to also make an effort to pay attention, not only to the stories about the hot environmental topic of the day, but also to the stories of long term pollution that occurs slowly over time, and has an enormous impact on the lives of communities around the globe.

---