Environmental Injustice
In the 21st century, communities around the world, to some degree, are all experiencing the adverse effects of pollution, contamination of natural resources, and anthropogenic (human-caused) global warming. But which communities are more impacted than others? Well, in recent years, scientific research and mass-scale studies have repeatedly shown and proven that minority communities, especially those populated by the homeless and people of African-American and Latino descent, have experienced greater environmental injustices (sweltering hot temps, higher levels of air and water pollution, greater disease transmission, lack of sanitation) opposed to white and ethnic-majority areas. Therefore, major systemic, financial, ethnic, racial, and religious biases have resulted in severe problems concerning air, water, and climate.
First, air quality is particularly influenced by environmental injustice. For example, “Black Americans are exposed to 1.5 times as much of the sooty pollution that comes from burning fossil fuels as the population at large” (Pollution Is Killing Black Americans. This Community Fought Back.), resulting in disproportionate rates of lung cancer, asthma, and other respiratory issues (abhmuseum.org). Furthermore, Latinos were found to breathe in 63% more air pollution than they create, resulting in medical disparities and higher rates of asthma among hispanic children (parents.com). Environmental injustices concerning air polluting compounds also exist among the disabled and other socially-disadvantaged individuals. According to “satellite observations, a global chemical transport model, and ground-based measurements”, women, children, people “with disabilities”, and people without access to household toilets inhaled greater PM 2.5 concentrations of toxic air pollutants in India (Air Quality and Environmental Injustice in India: Connecting Particulate Pollution to Social Disadvantages).
Second, financially compromised and minority communities as well as young children are unfairly impacted by contaminated water resources. One infamous example is the city of Flint, Michigan, known for its lead water-pipe crisis. 40% of Flint’s population lives in poverty, a possible contributor to drastic water quality decline due to injustices against the poor. Furthermore, 56% of the city’s population is black, proving that racism was an element in Flint’s water crisis, according to the The Michigan Civil Rights Commission, which stated that “We are not suggesting that those making decisions related to this crisis were racists, or meant to treat Flint any differently because it is a community of color. Rather, the response is the result of implicit bias and the history of systemic racism that was built into the foundation of Flint”. Due to the crisis, 6,000 – 12,000 children were exposed to lead-polluted water and a 58% increase in death of fetuses followed, demonstrating environmental injustice against the very youngest of individuals. Yet, Flint is not the only example. People in disadvantaged and minority communities around the world face the long-term impacts of agricultural runoff, pesticides, urbanization, and more on water quality and the resulting learning, behavioral, and carcinogenic effects on children and adults (Clean Water and the Environmental Justice Movement).
Finally, similar to how environmental injustice has severely influenced air and water quality, financial, racial, and ethnic biases have substantially affected climate in the impacted communities. In fact, the Columbia Climate School on Climate, Earth, and Society stated that heat stress from global warming has led to “heat cramps, heat stroke, heat exhaustion, hyperthermia, and dehydration” for many people around the world. Yet, conditions characteristic of hotter temperatures (diabetes, asthma, COPD, heart disease) have been diagnosed at higher rates in disadvantaged communities opposed to non-disadvantaged areas. Furthermore, a study conducted from 1999 to 2011 concluded that infant mortality rates as a result of California heat waves was highest among Black infants. Generally, this is because minority communities have less access to good healthcare and insurance as well as fewer trees. Extreme weather events also play a role. Minorities have reduced access to strong infrastructure — making them more vulnerable to wildfires, droughts, floods, and snowstorms from climate change. Their lack of transportation also makes them less able to escape in the case of a natural or climatic disaster. In addition, smog and air pollution is another influencer. Warmer temperatures and waves of drought because of global warming can increase the availability of toxic air contaminants. Such conditions can result in hypertension, diabetes, and COPD. These circumstances and health issues, once again, are also exacerbated by environmental injustice. In fact, African-Americans are three times more likely to die as a result of smog and air pollution than white people, in part because they are exposed to 38% higher levels of air contamination and live in counties in violation of air quality standards (Why Climate Change is an Environmental Justice Issue).
In conclusion, environmental injustices against disadvantaged communities, minorities, women, and children have resulted in severe environmental and public health issues concerning air, water, and climate. Renewable energy, equal distribution of environmental risk, implementation and enforcement of environmental policies, in-depth involvement in minority communities, and action against climate change is considered necessary to combat environmental injustice (University of Pittsburgh Climate and Global Change Center).
References:
- https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/28/magazine/pollution-philadelphia-black-americans.html
- https://www.abhmuseum.org/pollution-is-killing-black-americans-this-community-fought-back/
- https://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/green/latino-children-are-affected-worst-by-air-pollution/
- https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/1/304
- https://www.sharedjustice.org/…/6/12/clean-water-and-the-environmental-justice-movement
- https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2020/09/22/climate-change-environmental-justice/
- https://www.climatecenter.pitt.edu/news/environmental-injustice-roots-impacts-and-urgent-solutions
The Case Against Horror Movies
In recent years, horror movies such as Chucky, Final Destination, and The Saw have significantly increased in popularity. Yet, scientific evidence and credible, research-based articles have repeatedly proven that horror movies can result in serious physical, mental, and psychological impacts as well as clear exploitation of mental illness. Therefore, to preserve the physical and non-physical health of movie watchers, it is only reasonable to prohibit all previous horror movies and the creation of new ones.
First, horror movies can result in significant impacts on the physical and mental health of viewers. In fact, Dr. Allison Forti, at the Department of Counseling at Wake Forest Univ. stated that, “So when we watch horror films our brains, even though we’re watching it for fun, could interpret it as a potential threat. It has the potential to activate a fear response or an anxiety response. People may experience, while watching these movies, an increase in their sweat, in their heart rate, in feelings of anxiety. They may have tight muscles. This is the brain’s way of saying it sees something dangerous”. She continued by saying that watching horror movies can “desensitize” humans, resulting in loss of connection, empathy, and compassion relating to other people’s events. Furthermore, a UK study at the University of Westminster concluded that frightening stimulus during horror films may cause a wave of adrenaline to be excreted in the body, ramping up the human fight-or-flight response and corrupting sleep patterns and the circadian rhythms. Also, research conducted by Purdue University shows that feelings may be more deeply felt directly after a horror movie. Though this may be prevalent in positive events, it encompasses negative feelings associated with the movie, too, leading to increased stress. Evidence also exists to support the connection between horror movies and other health effects. According to Healthline, horror movies use mental tricks to create emotions of “suspense and danger” in the viewer, which in other words, is a form of “manipulation”. This may cause the excessive excretion of cortisol, norepinephrine, and other chemicals, resulting in noticeable negative effects on the heart, arteries, and lungs as well as higher levels of psychological stress. As a result, pupil dilation, increased heart rates, and muscle tension may occur.
Another researcher, Dr. Pamela Rutledge, director at the Media Psychology Research Center, stated that “Even the post-horror euphoria some feel is activating, not relaxing. Thus, even for those who enjoy the emotional roller coaster, horror and suspense films can make it harder to sleep”. This is a serious side effect, particularly considering that sleep is important to bodily health. Because of this, the watching of horror movies has been indirectly linked to severe mental health issues. In fact, 90% of people with depression have poor sleep quality. Furthermore, after 3 consecutive days of no sleep (contributed to by horror movies), “distortions, delusions, and hallucinations” may result. This also puts older adults at higher chance of suicide. Horror film scenes may also be internalized into dreams, resulting in nightmares and disruption of REM sleep. Healthline continued by stating that anxiety-suffering people are more negatively impacted by horror movies. As Dr. Rutledge explained, “Chronic anxiety increases the sensitivity to startle-eliciting stimuli, thus making people who are already stressed and anxious more likely to respond negatively”. This is due to the presence of Anxiety Sensitivity, or the neural misunderstanding of “sensations” for “real” threats. People with this condition are more likely to suffer higher levels of panic and anxiety from horror movies because of fear of intrusive thoughts and images, which can be extraordinarily concerning if serious. Furthermore, Sally Winston, a psychologist and director of Anxiety and Stress Disorders Institute of Maryland, added that images from horror movies could lead to “unwanted thoughts and feelings” and that there is a major need in Anxiety Sensitive people to avoid horror experiences.
But what elements of horror cause such distressing health concerns? Well, Dr. Heidi Mathers, an AP psychology teacher said that “long-term and dangerous” side effects of horror films include “paranoia, irrational fears, interest in the paranormal or demonology, things that aren’t psychologically healthy for the mind”. For example, something like an automobile accident in “Final Destination 2” could be extremely dangerous to one’s mental health. These changes can also be personal. Dr. Mathers recalls being terrified of birds after watching Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds”. Sultana etc. (2021) conducted a study on the influence of horror movies on psychological health in Faisalabad, Pakistan. They proved that horror movies can result in major physical violence, emotional damage, disturbance, and sickness in children, as well as behavioral and psychological disorders; even in young people. The authors also concluded that boys and girls could get PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) by watching horrifying events, like those in horror movies. These may result in long-term impacts of “aggression” and “self-endangerment” in youth that can continue into adulthood. Obsessive talk and alienation is another consequence. The study also quoted Aluja-Fabregat A. (2000) who said “There are a number of people in daily living who possibly will not get it acceptable to beat-up somebody, other than find it alright to exchange unkind language and abuse others. Films with violent content and horror make the public less civilized, less self-assured, and extra eager to pass harsh words and feel insecure and scared even living among the people. People learn such behaviors through scary horror films and violent media”. Another piece of cited research showed that horror scenes can result in severe anxiety, extreme fear of dying, dizziness, excessive heart rate, and shortness of breath in both children and teens.
And it is not limited to children. James B. Weaver (2000) discovered that grown men may be more inclined to resolve life issues through violence and scary behavior if regularly exposed to aggression and scare in horror movies. Baird R. (2000) also studied such matters. The author of the study asked both male and female participants if they experienced “fear, specific fear, or wild imagination, fear of sleeping alone, nightmares, and sleeping with lights on” after a horror movie. The results showed that by just watching one horror movie, strong impacts on the brains of young individuals may last years afterwards. Ballon B., Leszcz M. (2007) concluded that 9 – 13 year olds in New Zealand “endured” violence, psychological, and emotional damage after watching horror films. Sultana, etc. (2021) concluded that most teenager respondents experienced nightmares after a horror movie, the majority of viewers did not like horror characters, most of the general population that participated in the study did feel frightened under the effects of the horror movie, and that, finally, most horror movie watchers felt fear over the “normal course” of their lives. Yet, more scientific proof exists against horror movies. Fit Glamour, a health and fitness magazine, said that the brain may link past traumatic events to specific horror scenes. Watching ghost horror movies and haunted films may result in heart attacks, strokes, panic attacks, and nightly chills. The Lancet Psychiatry stated the terror in horror movies could cause fear of psychosis in the viewer. Horror movies also discriminate against medical professionals. In many horror film scenes, like those in Child’s Play, psychiatrists are portrayed as electrocuting patients as a treatment, which has nothing in common with reality.
Horror movies also exploit the pains of mental illnesses in their scenes. According to the Chloe Chats blog on Mental Health and Lifestyle, horror films have repeatedly and discriminately shown mental patients walking out of a “psychiatric ward”, only to commit murderous rampages and enjoy killing people. This is clearly abuse and discrimination against those living with mental health illnesses and issues. For example, the main character of the film Psycho (1960) is portrayed as having Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and is therefore called a psycho. This raises the legitimate question, does having DID make you a psycho? The answer is obviously no. Split (2016) also stigmatizes mental issues by portraying the psychologically ill main character as a criminal who has 23 personalities and kidnaps three teenagers. The film is also discriminatory in that it portrays the mentally ill main character as a cannibalistic sociopath. Other movies that stigmatize mental illness include Friday the 13th (1980), Halloween (1978), The Shining (1980), and Nightmare On Elm Street (1984). Furthermore, Her Culture says that many horror movies connect psychological illness to violence, brutality, and volatility using “cinematographic” stereotypes. For example, The Roommate (2011) portrays a woman with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia as a murderer and a threatener. This is an extreme case of stigmatization of mental health issues. The film “The Shining” portrays a man named Jack with OCD, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder as an evil person who commits violence and attempts to kill his own family. This, once again, is clearly a form of discrimination.
Finally, Lindsay Holmes of the Huffington Post, wrapped the effects of this up in her own words: “There’s evidence that these false stereotypes can be severely damaging: Research shows that the negative perceptions surrounding mental health disorders can prevent people from seeking help”.
The Effects of the Climate Crisis
From 1993 to 2019, the Antarctic Ice Sheet lost 148 billion tons of ice per year! According to scientists, this rapid decline of Antarctic ice mass could result in sea level rise and other devastating consequences. Yet, this is only one example of the many effects, impacts, and natural disasters that could impact global, ecological, and human systems in future decades due to the climate crisis. In fact, scientific literature and/or meteorological evidence has shown signs of such scenarios since the industrial revolution in the early 1800s. Therefore, the climate crisis, which has been fueled by greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion, agriculture, and transportation, could lead to an increase in extreme events (floods, droughts, storms, etc.), oceanic impacts on marine systems, and glacial retreat and reduced snow cover in coming years (NASA).
First, higher rates of more intense and frequent extreme events have been experienced due to the climate crisis. For example, 33 stations along the western, eastern, and gulf coasts have all reported a dramatic increase in coastal flooding since the 1950s (EPA). Furthermore, because of climate change, recent years have seen historic records concerning wildfires, especially in western states. As a result, forest fires are lasting five times longer and burning six times more land than in the 1970s and 80s (DW). Even more concerning, is the climate crisis’s impact on the severity and frequency of hurricanes and droughts. In fact, hurricane eyewall precipitation is projected to increase by 20% and usual storm intensity is expected to increase by 2 – 11% (NEEF). Drought problems are also being worsened. Groundwater sources have dried up, drought rates and severity have increased, and soil moisture has rapidly plummeted in some places, particularly in N. America, Australia, and Asia (Smithsonian Magazine). All of this has culminated into the climate crisis resulting in “920 million to water scarcity, 820 million to heat waves, 815 million to lead pollution, 600 million to vector-borne diseases, 400 million to tropical storms, 330 million to riverine flooding, and 240 million to coastal flooding”, in reference to children (Nation of Change).
Second, oceanic and marine system impacts have occurred due to climate change. For example, sea levels have increased by a stunning 8 – 9 inches ever since 1880, with about 33% of that increase happening in the last few decades. This is attributed to melting glaciers and ice sheets as well as “thermal expansion” of saltwater. Furthermore, if humanity continues on its current Green House gas emissions path, then a 8.2 foot sea level rise is to be expected by 2100 compared to 2000 levels (NOAA). Another example is climate crisis-linked ocean acidification. In fact, ocean acidity has increased by 30% since the beginning of the Industrial revolution due to Carbon-emissions and global warming. This can cause loss of sharks, whales, fish, crustaceans, and marine shelled organisms. Also, ocean acidification due to the climate crisis can result in food shortages in coastal and agricultural communities, corruption of ocean planktonic systems, extinction, death of coral reefs, and human health concerns (Conserve Energy Future). In addition, climate change is linked to the degradation of the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets as well as the melting of the “Doomsday Glacier”.
Lastly, reduced snow cover in mountains, high-altitude areas, and in continents are another impact of the climate crisis. In fact, in the most recent five decades, massive declines have appeared in spring snow cover. Historically, this has been most defined in Canada, Alaska, and in Northern Russia and Siberia. Ground observations, gauges, and satellite imagery have also shown a decrease in June snow extent in the Northern Hemisphere. As a result, this has caused further warming of the earth, flooding of waterways and cities, and ecological imbalances concerning excess plant growth. This is probably due to the shortening of “winter conditions” and lengthening of “growing seasons” (NOAA).
The top map depicts snow cover in North America from October 1, 2011, to March 20, 2012; the lower map shows the same period in the autumn and winter of 2010 to 2011. The colors depict the percentage of days in which a parcel of land was covered by snow. The deepest blues had snow cover just 10 to 20 percent of the time, while the palest blue depicts near complete snow cover for the season. Gray areas had no measurable snow. The map does not reveal snow depth.
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/77530/snow-deficit
In conclusion, the climate crisis has been proven to cause extreme events, such as hurricanes and wildfires, oceanic effects, and reduced snow cover. This is a result of fossil fuel combustion, agriculture, and transportation. It is clear that human and ecological concerns will also result from climate pollution and greenhouse gases.
Resources:
- https://www.nationofchange.org/2021/08/25/climate-crisis-putting-a-billion-children-at-extremely-high-risk-warns-new-un-report/
- https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/
- https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/climate-change-has-made-droughts-more-frequent-1900-180972087/
- https://www.dw.com/en/how-climate-change-is-increasing-forest-fires-around-the-world/a-19465490
- https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-sea-level
- https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-solutions-of-ocean-acidification.php
- https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-spring-snow-cover
Why Deforestation Should be Banned
In the heart of South America, lies the Amazon Rainforest, the largest rainforest on the face of the earth. The Amazon Basin acts as a home for “427 mammal species, 1300 bird species, 378 species of reptiles, and more than 400 species of amphibians” as well as 2.5 million insect species! In addition, the Amazon Rainforest also has 390 billion individual trees, sequesters countless tons of CO2 from the atmosphere, and is a sustainable source of food and clothing for indigenous peoples. Yet, every year, 3.5 to 7 billion trees are cut down, burned, and permanently removed from the Amazon Rainforest and other forests around the world, causing immense environmental impacts. So this begs the question: Should Deforestation, or the permanent removal of trees from forests, be banned? The answer is a definitive yes.
First, deforestation can kill flora and fauna and force plants and animals out of their habitats. For example, the Iquitos Gnatcatcher, a small grey and white bird recently discovered in 2005, has been severely impacted by logging. Due to deforestation-driven habitat loss, the Iquitos Gnatcatcher’s population has been reduced to approximately only 75 – 374 individuals in the wild, with a limited range of just 8 square miles, or 4,950 acres. This heartbreaking loss has even caused the IUCN, or the International Union of Conservation of Nature, to rank it as critically endangered, according to Plant Your Future. Many Biologists also believe that some native plant species are nearing extinction due to the clearing of areas of forest for agriculture and cattle farms. For example, the Helena Redwood and the Lachanodes Arborea were trees once endemic to the south Atlantic Island of St. Helena before they disappeared and went extinct as a result of deforestation-driven habitat fragmentation for the development of pastures, fuel, and timber. The Hinton’s oak, native to the montane dry forests of Mexico and the Flabellidium Spinosum, a moss species native to Bolivia, are also in grave danger, listed as critically endangered by IUCN. Therefore, the removal of trees by deforestation poses a severe threat to wildlife and plant life, causing “accelerated erosion, leaching, soil compaction, decreased soil fertility, diminished natural plant regeneration, interruption of hydrological cycles, water salinization, waterlogging, flooding, increased drought risk, and the establishment of undesirable weedy plants”, lower biodiversity, and lost habitat for moss and shrub species as well as for many types of animals, including Orangutans, the Northern Spotted Owl, Grizzly Bears, as well as countless other birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
Second, Deforestation is a major contributor to the climate crisis and emits substantial amounts of toxic air, water, and soil pollution. Due to tree removal during deforestation, deforestation is responsible for the emission of a total of 1.5 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere every year. This is because trees naturally absorb carbon from the air during their life cycle. By removing trees during deforestation, forests are less able to sequester carbon from the atmosphere, and thus more Carbon Dioxide is released into the air. The process of burning forests during deforestation also releases mass tons of greenhouse gases in itself. When these greenhouse gases, such as CO2, methane, etc. are released into the atmosphere, climate change occurs, causing catastrophic impacts on planetary systems including heatwaves, droughts, storms, floods, sea level rise, and melting ice sheets. These dangerous effects are thus partially caused by deforestation. In fact, the Union of Concerned Scientists says that tropical deforestation and “forest degradation” is responsible for 10% of all global warming emissions based on mathematical models, satellite imagery, and other sources. Also, studies conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists, in contrast to more recent studies, also show that tropical deforestation releases 3.0 billion tons of CO2 every year, which would be equivalent to 600 M cars! In addition to greenhouse gases, deforestation also causes the emission of many toxic air pollutants into the environment. When trees are cut or burned down, there is not enough oxygen to break down air pollutants like sulfur dioxide, causing an increase in sulfur pollution and acid deposition. Smoke and ash can also be emitted into the air during deforestation. This can severely harm environmental health. Deforestation can also contaminate water and soil. Dessie and Bredemeier 2013 showed how deforestation can impact water resources by proving that deforestation can lead to increased sediment load, turbidity, and reduced nutrient concentrations in watersheds. A study conducted in Malawi showed that deforestation reduced access to clean water for local residents and decreased water quality by nearly 1%. Deforestation also pollutes soil, because when entire forests are removed, more soil is exposed to wind and water and the chance of soil erosion increases “dramatically”.
Finally, deforestation can cause violent natural disasters and harm indigenous peoples and other humans. The roots of trees hold the soil together, but when they are cut down in the process of deforestation, the ground becomes loose, leading to landslides and mudslides that can cause trauma and broken electrical, sewage, and water pipelines, according to the CDC. Without vegetation to hold water from “heavy rains”, deforestation can increase the severity of flooding, causing an increased loss in life, agriculture, and property. Deforestation has been also known to worsen the intensity of droughts. “When a forest is replaced by lighter colored plants, the land reflects more sunlight, which cools the atmosphere. Cool air sinks, while water vapor needs to rise and condense to create a rainstorm. Without warm, unstable air rising into the atmosphere, rainstorms became less common”, says NASA. In fact, drought intensification due to deforestation may have been the reason that the Mayan civilization fell in Central America. Even more concerning, is the effect of deforestation on native and indigenous peoples. According to the Pachamama Alliance, deforestation can cause the “Destruction of Homelands. As large amounts of forests are cleared away, allowing exposed earth to wither and die and the habitats of innumerable species to be destroyed, the indigenous tribes who depend on them to sustain their way of life are also irreparably damaged”. Furthermore, because deforestation reduces fish populations — a critical protein source for indigenous people — the cutting and burning of forests endangers native food sources. In addition, deforestation can cause illness and low nutrition, displacement, and exploitation among indigenous families.
In conclusion, deforestation has been clearly proven to contribute to severe harm to wildlife and plant species, global warming and water, soil, and air pollution, natural disasters, and devastating displacement, exploitation, and illness among indigenous tribes. Therefore, for the health, safety, and conservation of the earth, it is clear that deforestation must be immediately banned if we want to preserve forests, like the beautiful Amazon Rainforest, for generations to come.
Yusuf Gabr 