Toxicity

Words like toxins are dramatic and pull at our fear more easily than other issues that could be more important like drought or famine. I won't say that it isn't an issue that deserves our attention, far from it. I simply wanted to point out that when we decide to take funds for toxic clean up that they come from the appropriate source. It does bother me that there are still toxins laying around from the mining era and I do think that something should be done about it. As a society we should maintain a low level of toxicity. If you don't let the mess get out of hand, it doesn't take much to clean it. From the very moment it begins to affect our health it should be high on our list priorities. The amount of cleansing that can be done relies heavily on our funds and technology but I'm sure we could do quite a bit if we, as a society, put our minds to it. Storage I suppose is the difficult part. I can't say I know how much there is nor how much space it would take up, but I had one idea. I imagine that if some of that plastic from the pacific ocean was recycled, we could make massive containers for the contaminants that might rest in a landfill, isolated from society and those who maintain them. This might be an effective way to kill two birds with one stone. Before you tear into it too much, my other idea was even more outlandish and that was to just load them onto a rocket and launch them all into space. Somehow I don't think that would be cost effective though lol. At any rate, none of that would make any difference if we couldn't keep it from happening again. Careful laws have already been enacted but are obviously not doing the whole job. I don't see any flaw in their design. It is my belief that they simply don't have the funding. If we can manage to pull them from a less important source (and I can think of a few), than by all means increase the funds.

Boom Goes the Dynamite (mining legacy)

I was shocked at some of the things Mr. Thorton had to say about our own back yard. The ferocious hunt for rare metals that took place at the colonization of our dear state seems to have had a more lasting effect than I ever imagined. The issues of mercury, acid, asbestos and arsenic poisoning are important issues that require our attention. It's easy to turn the other way when the effects are gradual. If it doesn't have devastating and rapid effects we tend to ignore it. This time however, it is happening in our own backyard. I won't go into the emotional pleas of children's schools and fields but people are getting sick, fish is in short supply and our own homes could be a slow poison. I would suggest that more funding is given to the cause of testing for these substances and research methods on their removal. Isolate all the points of contamination and eliminate the problem as quickly, cheaply and permanently as possible. It would also be wise to organize a method of enforcement so that this might not happen again. This isn't just about saving rivers, forests and wildlife but also the lives of people and the land we call home. We need to stop waiting to react to situations and start attacking the source, making sure that they don't happen in the first place. Remove the poison for good, don't wait to cure it.

The Sierra

It was obvious from his presentation that Mr. Noy is very passionate about his surroundings. I was particularly interested near the end when he showed the photos of the giant trees and told us their stories. It was very sad to hear about how they fell and the ridiculously immature purposes our society had for doing it. I feel that it was a very sad time when the selfishness of one generation killed monuments for their own amusement. It goes without saying that the remaining trees should be protected but to me this seems like a problem that's already been solved. Not to say that these trees should be left unattended but I simply doubt a re-occurrence will happen anytime soon. The ancient giants will return in time, I believe we have other obligations that may be more pressing.

Endangered

These are difficult questions that I'm not entirely sure have correct answers. I'll begin by saying that we should save as many species as we can. Humans have, without question, taken more than our fair share of resources and even though it was unintentional, it's still our responsibility to repair what was broken. We should begin with the species which most other species are dependent on. Start at the foundation, bacteria, plant life, insects, small rodents and everything in between. A strong foundation can lead to support for the entire infrastructure in ways unintended and surprisingly powerful. I believe this is the best way to spend what funds we have. Of coarse some resources will have to be set aside for the more advanced life forms (the cute and furry) in order to keep the public happy and maintain a flow of income but they're a problem for a later date. Although the needs of humans are critical on the list of priorities, they still must be held acountable for their impact on the environment. Ignoring the wildlife around you for your own needs is incredibly short sighted. It must be maintained as much for our own sake as the species themselves. We are all dependant on a balance that cannot be achieved without foresight.