Review of Reading 16 "Ill Winds: The Chemical Plant Next Door"

Summary

This article was written by Becky Bradway. The main focus of this article outlines the author's childhood years growing up in Buffalo, Illinois, and the environmental challenges this little town faced. From the time she was 8 years old till she was 10, her and her family lived in Buffalo, right next to a chemical plant called Borden Chemical. The author claimed that although the town of Buffalo was very small, and dull, she loved everything about it.

As much as the author loved her hometown, she eventually developed cancer. Fortunately, she overcame her illness. Her mom and uncle, on the other hand, had passed away. Looking back at her life, the author question many things about her hometown and the influence Borden Chemical had on the people that lived there. She wonders why people allow these "bulbous monstrosities" to stay in their towns. She also wonders if the chemicals released by this chemical plant is what fueled the cancer to grow in both herself and her family members.

The author then emphasizes the stereotype of rural people. How rural people are nothing but hicks and inbreds who have no power, and are the "butt of jokes." She says that kids in these rural towns look to these chemical plants to get a job in the future, after they get married. She also talks briefly about the history of her town and how it hasn't changed much since the year 1900. Illiopolis, Illinois was another small town by Buffalo, where there lies another chemical plant. The author believes the Illiopolis Plant helped contaminate the environment in her hometown.

After addressing her first question she then goes onto her second question: Did the chemicals released by this chemical plant fuel the cancer to grow in my family and myself? She states that Borden Chemical's specialties are resins and formaldehyde. The plant in Illiopolis, on the other hand, produces polyvinyl chloride (PVC). She emphasizes that both toxic gases and flammable gases are used to make this product. These are the chemicals that are released in the air and into the town water lines. The employees that work in that plant have high rates of liver and breast cancer, and everyone else around the plant is affected as well. She ends the paragraph by stating the fact that there are too many plants and factories that pollute the environment that there is no way to be sure that Borden Chemical is to blame for her and her family's sickness.

This article comes to an end when the author talks about a conversation she had with her uncle Wade when she visited him and his family over Easter. He told her about employees that worked in a Taylorville factory and how they all have acquired or died from a rare cancer. He said that they are forced to clean various types of chemicals from the insides of tanks and if they refuse then they're fired. Since her uncle owned his own construction business, the author says he had to take on other "blue-collar risks." Her cousin Mike, who took over the construction business, told her that "if you don't become your own boss by 40, you'll turn into a cripple. Your joints stop working." This is because the factory workers are forced to do work that is often too physically demanding. The author concludes by reflecting on her thoughts as a child. How her and her family believed they were safe in their town because they were away from the city and all the pollution and violence it came with. But because of chemical plants such as Borden Chemical and the plant in Illiopolis, virtually no one is safe.

Terms List

Monstrosity - the state or character of being monstrous.

Resins - any of numerous clear to translucent yellow or brown, solid or semisolid, viscous substances of plant origin, such as copal, rosin, and amber, used principally in lacquers, varnishes, inks, adhesives, synthetic plastics, and pharmaceuticals.

Formaldehyde - a colorless, toxic, potentially carcinogenic, water-soluble gas, CH2O, having a suffocating odo, usually derived from methyl alcohol by oxidation: used chiefly in aqueous solution, as a disinfectant and preservative, and in the manufacture of various resins and plastics.

Polyvinyl Chloride - a tasteless, odorless, clear, hard resin formed by the polymerization of vinyl chloride; its uses include packaging, clothing, and insulating pipes and wires. Workers in its manufacture are at risk because of the toxicity of the vinyl chloride.

Idyllic - serenely beautiful and happy: beautiful, untroubled, and happy.

Coreopsis - any composite plant of the genus Coreopsis, including familiar garden species having yellow, brownish, or yellow-and-red ray flowers.

Munitions - war material, especially weapons and ammunition.

What Challenged My Thinking

This article was a bit more emotional than the other articles I've read because it is almost like reading an autobiography about the author rather than an article filled with cold hard facts. Reading about her family, and all the "small-town" people being affected by chemical plants made this reading a bit sad. I knew beforehand that chemical factories release many harmful substances into the environment but this article did present a new idea to me, the fact that "no one is safe." It seems like when you are in a rural area, in the middle of nowhere, such as you cabin or just camping somewhere, you feel as if the air you are breathing is so pure. I feel this way whenever I go camping or to a friends cabin. It's like these areas have been barely touched by man. But sadly, it's areas like these where many chemical plants are, and people don't even realize the harmful substances that they may be breathing or drinking. The idea of the fact that "no one is safe" really opened my eyes wider because next time I'm in a rural area, I'll remember to think twice before closing my eyes and taking in a deep breath of "fresh" air.

Click here for more information about this topic!

REVIEW:Diet for a New America

                                      

“At the present time, when most of us sit down to eat, we aren't very aware of how our food choices affect the world.  We don't realize that in the sizzle of our steaks there is the suffering of animals, the mining of our topsoil, the slashing of our forests, the harming of our economy, and the eroding of our health."  ~John Robbins

Summary of Documentary

The video "Diet for a New America" is about how the standard American diet has enormous affects on our environment. The author, John Robbins, emphasizes the fact that consuming large amounts of meat and dairy are not only harmful to our health, but also to our planet. This documentary presents problems dealing with disease, animal cruelty, and environmental concerns. 

The video relates high-fat diets to disease in a couple different aspects. First it talks about research that is showing that high-fat diets are strongly correlated to many chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease and certain cancers. Along with that, it also talks about how the billions of tons of manure, from cattle and other animals, are getting into the water lines and dispersing nitrates into the drinking water. These nitrates can cause "blue-baby syndrome" and possibly certain cancers.

When talking about animal cruelty, the video pointed out the fact that many farms do not provide livable conditions for their animals. Part of the reason could be carelessness. But a big part of this is because of how Americans like their meat, juicy and tender. Unfortunately for animals, the best way to be "juicy and tender" is to barely move around, and eat lots and lots of food. Although this may sound like heaven to some people, think about being confined in an area so small that you couldn't even turn around (if you were on your hands and knees)! Some of the conditions these animals are in are just plain torture and brutal, and it is America's hunger for meat that fuels this sad reality.

John Robbins also talks a lot about the damage we are causing to the environment because of what we choose to eat. The amount of space needed to raise cattle and other animals is unreal. The amount of food needed to feed all these animals is enormous. The pesticides and other chemicals used on the fields are harmful to the environment. Along with chemicals, manure also gets in the air and water, potentially harming those around the farm.

Basically, the main point of this documentary was to make us aware of the large proportions of food (particularly meat and dairy products) we are eating without even realizing the affects it has to ourselves and to the world. John Robbins' ultimate goal is to convince America to include less meat in its diet. Apparently if everyone does this, it will play a huge role in saving our environment.

Terms

Atherosclerosis - a disease affecting arterial blood vessels.

Nitrates - a compound of nitrogen and oxygen found in many food items.

"Blue-Baby Syndrome" - newborns with cyanotic conditions due to lack of oxygen.

Pesticides - a substance or mixture of substances used to kill a pest.

Manure - organic matter used as organic fertilizer in agriculture.

Hemoglobin - the iron-containing oxygen transport protein in the red blood cells.

My Thoughts

Growing up in a Korean family in America has been interesting for me. Learning how to live in 2 different cultures has never been a big problem, but when it came to food it was a little challenging. Unlike most of my friends and pretty much everyone else I know, I grew up eating rice and vegetables because that's all my mom ever cooked (she's a health NUT)! I remember when I was younger, I pretty much hated eating rice and vegetables because that's literally all we ever had for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner! If I ever had the chance to eat Mcdonald's, or go to a friends house for a spaghetti dinner, it was like a celebration for me because I got to eat "American" food. 

Now that I'm older and a little smarter (only a little), I come to appreciate the diet my mom offered for my family because now I'm aware of the risk factors related to high-fat diets and other unhealthy foods. Watching "Diet for a New America" has reassured my understanding that eating rice and veggies all the time is OKAY! Even though I have adopted the American culture, and pretty much drool whenever I smell burgers on the grill or pizza in the oven, I'm still glad that I grew up eating Korean food as well. Now that I'm in college, I miss Korean food more than ever and wish I didn't take it for granted as a kid. Also, after watching this video, I do think America could lighten their intake of meat. I know most everyone would die without meat (I'm guilty of this), but it wouldn't kill us to eat just a little less everyday. In fact, it would be more beneficial for our health, and the environment! Knowing that diets high in fat and cholesterol can contribute to serious illnesses, I think it's time that we as Americans have a little more self-control over what we eat. Even though foods like burgers, hotdogs, fries, and pizza taste amazing, sadly what tastes good is killing us.

Click here for more interesting facts!