NAME: Aryan Aineniwar & Thomas George Puthukayil
DATE: 26/3/24
ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE FIELD REPORT
[Insert one picture with map coordinates, date and time on it generated by the GPS photo
app like geotag and add at least three pictures of the pollution site including one with the
pollution effect on body—ct scans or medical reports are allowed]
These questions are borrowed from the project on “Environmental Injustice: Building a
Global Record” case study framework by University of California, Irvine members. Best field
reports will be uploaded on the PECE network under the EiJ Project.
1. What environmental threats (from worst case scenarios, pollution and climate
change) are there in this setting?
The setting we have picked shows a disturbing side of plastic pollution. As you see in
the picture plastic and paper waste are littered on the landscape. The main plastic
waste comes from food packaging. One of the worst-case scenarios is if animals try
to feed themselves using the leftover food in the plastic. Birds could accidentally
swallow pieces of plastic along with food leading to digestive issues or worse choking
to death. If left in nature plastics break down into small pieces that make them
invisible to the human eye while still being harmful. These “micro plastics” can easily
enter (animal or human) bodies through food water and air to cause various health
and reproductive issues. Microplastics are a threat to every ecosystem;
contaminating food water and even air. They are a potent danger we must stop at
any cost before we go extinct.
2. Who are stakeholders, what are their characteristics, and what are their perceptions
of the problems?
The stakeholders are students, staff members, construction workers, campus
security guards, cleaners and the local wildlife. As the majority population of the
campus, students are responsible for the plastic waste lying around the area we
catalogued. Despite having waste bins around the campus, trash still ends up on the
side of the road. Upon interviewing the students, we found the majority of them to
be apathetic to the issue. The others said it was not their responsibility and stated
they would do something if they could. The staff whether teaching or non-teaching
have their hands full with other responsibilities and don’t bother with the problem.
The rate at which waste piles up is too fast for the weekly cleanings that the campus
undergoes regularly. Lastly the local wildlife is especially affected by the plastics
dumped as majority of this waste consists of food packaging. So, animals and birds
may ingest plastic mistaking it for food because of the smell and do severe damage
to their bodies.
3. How have environmental problems in this setting been reported on by media,
environmental groups, companies and government agencies?
Unfortunately, there is no media coverage about this location. Our college preaches
sustainability. We have several clubs working on sustainable goals and making our
campus green. However not one of them has talked about the dumping of plastic
waste on the side of the road. There is little to no concern about this open dumping
ground created beneath our very noses. There should be some kind of concern
regarding these open dump areas. Because even if they are small, they can lead to
big issues in the future, plastic is not just bad for us but also the animals around the
campus. Recently I saw a stray dog eating some of the plastic waste and it left me
feeling very sad. No one has tried to report this or start an awareness campaign
regarding this issue.
4. What local actions would reduce environmental vulnerability and injustice in this
setting?
With no one stepping up to do the job, and plastic still being dumped into the wild
on the campus, I think we should start doing something rather than complaining. We
suggest the formation of a club that operates solely on waste reduction and cleanup.
This club will organize “Cleanup Events” where staff and students clean the waste
ridden areas on campus. It can be a compulsory initiative for students who lack
attendance in subjects or fail and have to take supplementary classes. This way the
students benefit from working with each other and staff members. The staff
members get additional help, the students will more likely choose this option
opposed to paying fines and they will forge stronger bonds all the while helping the
local environment.
5. On Body:
Edward Casey, in Getting Back into Place, draws on Merleau- Ponty’s
concept of the “flesh of the world” to argue that “my body and natural
things are not just conterminous but continuous with each other. . . .”
-Stacy Alaimo, Exposed, Page 31
Is there something that separates the body of those living in the pollution site and the
external environment? Like skin, a plastic sheet, a mask. How do pollutants enter and exit
these boundaries? (200 words)
CT Scan of microplastics in lungs
Plastic in general does a lot of damage to the environment. But nature continues as if
nothing happened and tries to break down plastic like any other normal material. However,
plastic instead of being broken down into its components turns into smaller pieces. Over
time these pieces of plastic get smaller and smaller. Once they are the size of five
millimetres or less, they are known as microplastics. These often get so small that they are
easily carried away by wind and water. So, they can have a far reach when it comes to
contamination. Through water it enters plants animals and our bodies. When we consume
food animal or plant; they may contain microplastics within and enter our bodies. They can
also enter bodies through the air and water. They collect in parts of animal and humans
causing immunological triggers. However, little is known regarding the exact impact of
microplastics on human health and the toxic effects that may vary depending on the type,
size, shape, and concentration of microplastics, as well as other factors. Further study is
required here. Currently there is not way to remove microplastics from the body. The best
thing we can do is to prevent further microplastic entering the ecosystem by making
companies producing plastic to take responsibility.
