Environmental degradation and its health implications for children
Shiva, M.
Iccw News Bulletin 40(3-4): 15-19
1992
PMID: 12318352 Document Number: 329444
Several types of environmental degradation and their philosophical implications are discussed in this essay. Environmental degradation causes chemicalization and degradation of the health of the body and harm to the soul and mind because of the resulting unmet needs of the many and the greedy consumption of the few. Degradation of the water supply is caused by overuse of water for cash crops, contamination of water by night soil, and improper disposal and piping of sewage. The resulting water-borne diseases, such as cholera, are then mistreated by giving children anti-diarrheal drugs that keep the germs in the body. Bottling of mineral water further reduces the supply for the poor. People should instead put bottles of water in the sun or use wood apple or drumstick seeds to purify water. Chemicalization of the environment has resulted in major disasters such as Mina inmates disease, the Bhopal disaster, the Bichri acid drinking water tragedy, crippling of youths in Karnataka by pesticide-poisoned crabs, and poisoning by use of pesticide containers for food. Usually those responsible go free, and socially conscious officers are fired. People have to protect themselves by taking such action as: recycling envelopes, eating non-processed foods, composting instead of burning leaves, and trying to get codes passed for baby food, drugs, vehicle emissions, and factory effluents.