Discuss: 3 Bets

This article would make the basis of a good Discovery Channel program. I was just reviewing their Producer’s Guide to see how to pitch a story about Chemical Winter. It’s full of informative information on exactly what’s needed to capture a core audience.

My own research parallels Sandra’s in some important ways.

Chemical Winter is essentially the chemical equivalent to Nuclear Fallout. The dynamics at the molecular level are completely different but the end result is remarkably similar.

The main differences are that Chemical Winter is happening - Sandra’s research describes what happens on a very personal level. The Chemical process is happening more slowly than the aftermath of a nuclear contamination.

But both are man-made and both are preventable.

Unfortunately, too many people don’t want to know.

Thirty years ago Sandra made a bet.

Almost forty years ago I painted an eight foot long painting depicting our polluted future complete with sinking oil tanker, gas masks, Pollution Monster and the Statue of Liberty choking in smog.

Everything in the painting came true. I still paint environmental messages.

Today a larger percentage of the public “gets it” but the truth is that big business and pro-development governments largely don’t even when they try to make out they do.

Sandra, I hope your message will continue to find new audiences. You have a great message and the perfect story to back it up.

Great article. It seems a logical extension of this piece would be to explore environmental rights divorced of human benefits as a precursor to the metrics proposed here.

Sandra, a deeply moving, deeply intelligent article that I wish everyone could read. Though yes, it made me weep, as I do so often these days, reading articles like yours, trying to stay aware of it all and not drown. But the pain is good when it’s truth-pain, even something to be grateful for, because until nearly everyone of us knows and acts on this painful truth, the poisoning of our lives and world will go on…

My immense gratitude for the integrity with which you continue to speak, illuminate and remind.  My best to young Elijah, from whom I’d be utterly delighted to buy apples, and maybe even some honey.

Sandra, thank you for sharing your personal experiences as a cancer patient, which I suspect took courage and love to do so.

After listening to the interview, I am somewhat puzzled. When asked about the reasons we are not more alarmed about all these life threatening toxins still on the market, you said one reason is feeling comfortable with the familiar. While that may be true, it seems a more obvious (elephant in the living room) factor is few people know how to fight Goliath, (ie, big business,industrial farming) who will use every method and resource they have to keep these products on the market.Most of us have been taught,from early on, not to question capitalism as the best economic system to provide us with all the “stuff” we have, even if the “stuff” ends up killing us.

A book that recently got my attention is THE SECRET WAR ON CANCER by Devra Davis, an epidemilogist,who clearly links the lack of fighting causes of cancer to agribusiness among others who do not want to give up the tremendous profits made by using all these toxins.

Perhaps during this time of our eco-crisis, (both ecologic and economic), folks will have the time and the desire to connect the dots and take action.
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Sandra:
I love your idea of linking up with the Pro Life movement—exploring the common ground that touches all sides of the debate:  Chemicals are hurting fetuses and endangering life as we know it.  Your explanation of the chemicals found in umbilical cord blood is frightening. I hope you win that bet…

Thank-you so much Sandra for a beautifully written article that connects the dots.

I just attended a conference on sustainability:  energy and our future.  Many folk, who are very concerned for the planet, seem not to connect the health of our eco-systems and our health. 

Especially decision-makers seem to see elements of eco-systems simply as separate “resources” that we need to protect yet the understanding of the links and interdepencies between them, and them and human systems is lacking. 

I am thirstly for more short examples to assist more people to connect the dots and see us as part of, not apart from, nature.

What are the linkages of the grizzle bears or native grasslands to our health? I truly appreciate the articles examples. Yes,each species is amazing on their own but to save them (and us) we need to need them.  Biologists please, more examples about the connections and our interdependencies with nature.  Thanks!

Loved this essay as usual. Thanks, Sandra.

Bill: she spoke at greater length about her dialogues with right to life audiences in a recent Orion Grassroots Network conference call on communicating science to make change. Have a listen here for more at the link for Jan 14 ‘09:

http://www.oriongrassroots.org/conference_calls

Erik, Orion Grassroots Network