The Dark Shadow Shrine

embrace the darkness; that you may see the light nestled within it......

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Sat Afternoon Class! -- Agriculture and Envmt Degradation

Click HERE ...

We discussed this in class before.....the above link takes you to the related articles...

Note:
-Green Revolution in India has led to cancer as chemicals from pesticides and chemical fertilizers (that increase yields) pollute water sources and the soil, causing the food grown on this soil to be contaminated as well.....
-About 70% of soil in China is polluted due to excessive use of pesticides
-Similarly in Bangladesh, industrial waste from factories pollutes the water, causing fish stock to die and rice paddies to be contaminated....

Also, I popped by Marks&Spencer today and here's a packet of coffee sold there. Note the Fair Trade logo at the bottom right hand corner (it resembles the Chinese Yin-Yang insignia). Marks&Spencer is a famous champion of Fair Trade products. Consumers buying such products are assured that the farmers producing them are not exploited but paid fair wages. Note though that products that carry the Fair Trade logo tend to be slightly more expensive.
Relate this to the 2010 compre on Food, where Patricia O'Sullivan talks about the labelling of food and whether it comes from workers who are paid fair wages......Check out THIS link also on Marks&Spencer some years back...Look at how they market themselves as a 'business with a conscience'....



Qns:
1) 'Eating has never been more dangerous'. Discuss.
2) The answer to environmental damage is not to be found in technology but by leading a simpler life. How far do you agree?
3) Environmental concerns and economic growth cannot co-exist. Do you agree?