Environmental and Health Impacts of Modern Human Consumption

 Hurricane Ida oil spills 'mind-boggling,' but likely not as bad as Katrina, Rita   MARK SCHLEIFSTEIN AND TRISTAN BAURICK | Staff writers PUBLISHED SEP 13, 2021 AT 4:00 AM | UPDATED SEP 13, 2021 AT 7:21 AM, https://www.nola.com/news/environment/article_bca326b0-1250-11ec-b0d6-fbaf7548a8d0.html

Section 1: Hurricane Ida and its Impact on Oil

Hurricane Ida is a recent hurricane to hit our coasts here in America. Much destruction and suffering has followed its wake, however many don’t think of the implications a hurricane can have on the environment. Oil rigs and pipelines have been destroyed because of the hurricanes destruction and as a result, oil has spilled into the coastlines ocean. This is however not uncommon when it comes to hurricanes, in the past hurricanes Katrina and Rita have caused much more oil leakage and destruction .I am concerned about how we handle oil. The goal should always be zero oil released into our world’s oceans.  The impacts of oil spills are unmatched by other forms of immediate pollution, death and desolation always that always follow the spill. Any amount of oil spilled will always be a cause for concern and can never be overexaggerated. The oil impacts human health by polluting water sources, as well as food sources. However attempts and measures are being made to make oil holding and production more environmentally friendly as well as safe to to manage during natural disasters. This is a very difficult task as much of oil rigging and transport is already very established. Lots of money exists in oil and lots of peoples livelihoods are wrapped up in oil. Changes to the structure of oil rigging or oil transport will take lots of time and lots of resources. Not only to have changeover in how the system works in replacing and updating technology, but also to get enough big people in the industry on board to make it happen. However big disasters like this might give enough incentive to move on from old standards in oil transport and production, especially with the advent of green energy. Large oil companies may need to display that they are sustainable to have the publics interest and trust, as well as the governments interest and trust. 

Oil Spill After Hurricane Rita, NOAA Images 

Section 2: Inhumane Logging in Peru and its Industry 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/31/peru-logging-indigenous-activists-murders 'Unprecedented' murder charges for loggers in deaths of indigenous activists Associated Press in Lima Thu 31 Oct 2019 16.10 EDT

The oil spill crisis in America is very similar to the logging crisis found in places like Peru. At its most basic point, the main reason why both crisis's exist in the first place is because of well established industry. Industries like logging and oil rigging are well aged and have a lot of money and livelihoods wrapped up in them. Changes like sustainable logging and respect for indigenous land is something that takes deliberate thinking and planning. These choices may be seen as too expensive or not profitable enough to engage on by large businesses. These issues weren't as present or pressing as they are now, as the amount of people on the earth has increased, the amount of wood and oil has also increased. Before there was enough wood in land that was uninhabited or not actively seeming to be lived that it wasn't causing issues. Or sustainable logging was viable and profitable. Before there wasn't as much oil on ships and pipes as there is now, and there wasn't as much oil needed in the first place. In our modern world respectful and sustainable processes for obtaining natural resources needs to be commonplace and focused on. It might take time but hopefully these practices will be put in place. 

Tasmania logging 10 Styx Devastation, TTaylor

Section 3: Keene State Choices We Can All Make

Things that Keene state students can do to aid in these crisis's might seem slim. However this isn't true, truly the things we as a college can do is astounding. These things might seem small however when consistently dome over ones lifetime it has a large impact. Everyone as individuals can purchase things second hand. This cuts down on waste oil and waste lumber that would otherwise be rotting and useless. It also cuts down on excess lumber or oil that is needed to make the item that is purchased at a second hand store. Another thing Keene state students can do is drive less. Less driving and more energy efficient forms of transport like walking or biking is huge when it comes to cutting down on how much crude oil is needed for a population. If we as a whole town drove less that would mean less oil would be needed to be transported and mined, which means less oil would be available to spill in a crisis. Although the perception of many may be that we have no impact as individuals lots of simple everyday choices or changes can result in huge changes when consistent, or said behavior spreads to other individuals or households around the person. 

Project Share Thrift Store, Michael Moore