Personal Perspectives
East Hoelscher |
Alex Clark |
I am an avid outdoorsman. On the weekends you will oftentimes find me on my mountain bike riding the greenbelt. On this trail that follows the creek, a disregard for cleaning up after yourself (leaving no trace) is very apparent. It is not uncommon for me to see tons of waste just sitting on the sides of the trail or in the water itself. I am upset by the fact that the poor decisions and actions of individuals are ruining the cities natural resources for us all. It is really sad to see something so meaningful to so many people just being destroyed. I want to help make a difference for the better of all Austinites by protecting the natural resources we all cherish.
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We are all inadvertently effected by pollution, whether we realize it or not we can (and need) to do something to help the problem before it gets any worse. I love the outdoors. The feeling of waking up after a long night of camping or seeing unexpected wildlife in the early hours of the day is amazing to me. The one thing that ruins it for me? The trash. It's everywhere sometimes we try to turn a blind I, myself included, but ignoring the ailments of this natural beauty is not how we make it better.
One day I wan't to be able to go on a hike and not even realize people were there before me, but until that day comes I am going to look the problem in the eye and I will help fix it. |
Helen Reynes |
Nolan Jett |
Water pollution is something that impact everyone as we can’t survive without it. We also can’t survive if our planet can not support life. I have alway been very passionate about wanting to make an impact in change. I plan on getting a degree in environmental science or international studies as all I really want to do is make a positive impact on people’s life. So many do not have access to clean water. Though the amount of water on our planet may never change that quality does. I would love to work for a nonprofit that does something we’re it not only works to provide clean water to people but also help people affect by global warming. Natural disasters such as hurricanes , droughts and fires will continue to become more frequent and strong. I have family in California and thought they do not live near were the majority of the fires out, it is still scary and is alway in the back of your mind. I get very stressed out not only about the state of our world, but about the future of it and know that I need to be do something that I am really passionate about. Even if the work is not fun or stressful I will be making some sort of difference.
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As an avid fisherman and someone who likes to spend a lot of time in the outdoors, it always pains me to see the trash and toxic chemicals that pollute our nation’s beautiful lakes, rivers, and oceans. It’s really easy to look the other way when we see it or blame the politicians up in Washington for poor environmental policies, but the reality is, we are all to blame for the current situation we are in. River pollution is an issue that becomes more pressing as time goes on and we have already given it a head start. It is time for us to make a difference and correct what we have done. This issue affects all of us and it is time to bring it to an end. Although I like to think of myself as a good fisherman, my goal is to live in a world, and have my kids grow up in a world, where we don’t have to mistake a piece of trash for a fish.
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Outside Perspectives
There are several key players when discussing the issue of pollution. I would argue that nobody is going to play the devil's advocate and flat out claim "pollution is not a bad thing", generally there are no opponents to the fact that there is an issue. Differences in opinion tend to arise when it is discussed how and who will create change. I see two sides to the issue: the side of strict environmental control, and the side of less regulation.
Strict Control Players: Local, State, and Federal Governments, Water Quality Advocates (Save our Springs, Keep Austin Beautiful, etc.), many of the residents that enjoy these resources
Less Regulation Players: The Polluters (commercial production, farming operations, homeowners using chemicals, etc.)
Overall, however, I am glad to say that the issue of pollution is being regarded highly and that the issue is one that already draws much public attention.
Strict Control Players: Local, State, and Federal Governments, Water Quality Advocates (Save our Springs, Keep Austin Beautiful, etc.), many of the residents that enjoy these resources
Less Regulation Players: The Polluters (commercial production, farming operations, homeowners using chemicals, etc.)
Overall, however, I am glad to say that the issue of pollution is being regarded highly and that the issue is one that already draws much public attention.
Our Interview:
We read an interview with Mark Eisworth, a specialist in Environmental and Resource Economics who brings an interesting perspective to the table. In this interview (linked below), Eisworth explains how water pollution could result in serious economic issues. Specifically, he refers to Colorado where a mine drained into the Animas river polluting the river with a lot of heavy metals. As he points out in the interview, this may not seem like a huge deal, but it could pose a serious risk economically to farmers along the river who depend on the water to raise their crops and livestock. Eisworth also makes the point that this spillage will affect the rafting companies who depend on good, clean, flowing water to keep their outfitting services alive. From this new perspective, we can see that water pollution can have consequences far beyond what we had thought of. With these new found issues, it is more important than ever to take action on this environmental crisis.
https://thewaternetwork.com/article-FfV/expert-interview-economics-of-water-pollution-y3wUR8OC4vChdhuJ9Wq8qw
https://thewaternetwork.com/article-FfV/expert-interview-economics-of-water-pollution-y3wUR8OC4vChdhuJ9Wq8qw