Chapters 15 and 16

The earth is where we all live. We are stuck here. This is where we were born, grow up, have children of our own, and eventually, die. Who wants to speed up the process of death? Not very many would be a good answer to that question. Most of us want to live long and healthy lives, we want to thrive and be as productive and happy as possible, correct? Well what about the earth. It should live long, and thrive fully too. The way I see it, if the place in which we live is not healthy, it is not at all possible for us to be healthy.

We walk around daily, strutting around like kings and queens, thinking we can do whatever we want to do to the land, and the environment and still be ok down the road. Sure, throwing the candy wrapper discretely on the ground while walking isnt going to make you drop dead instantly, and using the toilet will not cause you disease, but what will happen is that every tiny piece of pollution that we humans contribute to earth each day, destroys us a little bit more. Poor water supply, decreasing land, less soil to grow vegetables, filthier air to breathe, more and more disposable products are depleting our world, our health, and ultimately our lives.

Humans produce residues and wastes every day through things such as

1. human body waste

2. excess food materials (trash)

3. yard waste

4. construction waste

5. agricultural waste

6. transportation waste

7. energy production wastes

8. defense wastes

Every one of these include the word "waste" or "excess." and none of them sound any good to me.

In chapter 16, it discusses how environmental hazards are effecting the lives of people everywhere. These are any factor that contributes to the increased risk of human injury, disease, or death. These can be classified as biological, chemical, psychological, physical, or sociological hazards, and can even be natural disasters and terrorist attacks as well. One of the interesting ones to me was the lead poisoning, which is a chemical hazard. I have always heard people joke about getting lead poisoning but never took any of it too seriously. How would you even get lead poisoning? By eating paint? Well what kind of idiot would eat paint?? The fact is, it is so much easier than that. It is most commonly developed by children up to age five, and can come from multiple sources such as lead based gas for a car, batteries, pipes and paint in your homes, water, dust, and off of toys and furniture as well. This can cause serious damage for those afflicted, and is why it was so interesting to me, because i never took the thought of lead poisoning all very seriously. anemia, birth defects, bone damage, neurological and psychological depression, kidney damage, learning disabilities, miscarriages, and infertility. After reading all of that, I have no doubt any longer that it is something serious, and i doubt anyone would argue me on that.