The Environmental Health class exposed me to the
reality of environmental health issues I have never heard before, from
chemicals we use daily at home, to food we eat, even on grounds we walk.
One thing I vividly remember is the video of the poor farmers
in India who relied on growing their crops and inherited farm lands using pesticides
that cost 75% of what they make. They religiously spray chemical pesticides on
their crops every day without protective clothing devices. But the pesticides failed
them. Rather, pests multiplied on crops, neurotoxins poison their human systems,
and suicide claimed many lives.
Although there are individuals, groups, and communities
that prompts the call for change, current stakeholders’ efforts and existing
policies at national and international levels are not sensitive enough of the
environmental issues endangering human lives. I think that environmental health
issues should be brought up at every home, classes, and work places. Also,
mandates should be in place to require individuals to reasonably contribute to eliminate
environmental health risks. Examples of individual contribution could be
eradicating use of drinking plastic bottles, use of reusable shopping bags, and
composting.
Thank you very much for having me in this class!
