<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for How the nation’s breadbasket is poisoning its own water supply]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by Joncat http://www.grist.org/article/mississippi3/ Tue, 16 Oct 2007 03:50:12 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/mississippi3/1 Very overwhelming story

but what do we do to fix it? People need to eat and the country needs an alternative to fossil fuel. We're not at a point yet where we can harness solar power for our cars and chicken is a good source of protein. Can large scale crops survive without pesticides? It all seems so bleak but I just wonder how we can put a stopper on all this until we find a better way of operating our food and fuel industries.

]]> Very overwhelming story

but what do we do to fix it? People need to eat and the country needs an alternative to fossil fuel. We're not at a point yet where we can harness solar power for our cars and chicken is a good source of protein. Can large scale crops survive without pesticides? It all seems so bleak but I just wonder how we can put a stopper on all this until we find a better way of operating our food and fuel industries.

]]> Comment #2 by rrkauffman http://www.grist.org/article/mississippi3/ Tue, 16 Oct 2007 07:47:51 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/mississippi3/2 What this means in terms of impacts to health?

To understand the potential impacts to human health from such damage to our water supply, read Robert D. Morris's fascinating book, The Blue Death: Disease, Disaster, and the Water We Drink.  Dr. Morris helps us to understand the fragile state of our drinking water, and while offering only limited solutions to the problems, certainly leaves one acutely aware of the need for profound change in how we view, treat, and use fresh water.
On a side note: the book provides a detailed account of the 1993 cryptosporidium outbreak, mentioned in the article, which occurred in Milwaukee, WI, not Madison

]]> What this means in terms of impacts to health?

To understand the potential impacts to human health from such damage to our water supply, read Robert D. Morris's fascinating book, The Blue Death: Disease, Disaster, and the Water We Drink.  Dr. Morris helps us to understand the fragile state of our drinking water, and while offering only limited solutions to the problems, certainly leaves one acutely aware of the need for profound change in how we view, treat, and use fresh water.
On a side note: the book provides a detailed account of the 1993 cryptosporidium outbreak, mentioned in the article, which occurred in Milwaukee, WI, not Madison

]]> Comment #3 by E http://www.grist.org/article/mississippi3/ Tue, 16 Oct 2007 10:08:43 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/mississippi3/3 Correction

Fixed that (city starting with M), thanks.

]]> Correction

Fixed that (city starting with M), thanks.

]]> Comment #4 by Schrmin http://www.grist.org/article/mississippi3/ Tue, 16 Oct 2007 11:05:30 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/mississippi3/4 Very overwhelming story...what do we do to fix it?

True, the scale of this problem, as with many other environmental problems, is monumental and overwhelming.  But there are definitely solutions, many of which are simple personal actions.  For example:

Eat a plant-based diet (vegetarian/vegan) or close to it - the impacts of raising animals for food, many of which were pointed out in the article, are the biggest contributor to this (and most other) environmental problems (not to mention terrible for your health, and cruel and inhumane for billions of animals).  The majority of grain/soy/corn (80-90%) grown is fed to livestock...which translates into that much more fertilizers/pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, manure, methane, fossil fuel use, water use, land grazing, forest depletion, etc.  Animal production consumes an amount of water roughly equivalent to all other uses of water in the United States combined.   And seafood production also takes an enormous toll on aquatic ecosystems.  Even Einstein said "nothing would benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." See: http://www.earthsave.org , http://www.themeatrix.com , http://www.factoryfarmmap.org/ ,  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/oceans/la-oceans-series ... (Altered Oceans)

Buy organic products - organic agriculture is grown without pesticides, chemical fertilizers, sewage sludge (or genetically modified organisms and ionizing radiation).  Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations.

Reduce your consumption.  Most consumer products require water use at some point in their manufacture, and in turn contribute to water pollution. So reduce, then ru-use, then recycle.

Limit the amount of PPCP's (Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products) you consume/use, and replace those that you currently use with natural/organic products.  [A PPCP is "any product used by individuals for personal health or cosmetic reasons or used by agribusiness to enhance growth or health of livestock. PPCPs comprise a diverse collection of THOUSANDS of chemical substances, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, veterinary drugs, fragrances, and cosmetics." Most of the drugs people take, and the cosmetics/perfumes/deodorants/etc they use, end up in rivers/lakes and our water supplies.  See http://www.campusecology.wsu.edu/page_055.htm for more info.

Replace your conventional toxic cleaning products (laundry and dishwashing detergents/soaps/shampoos/bathroom cleaners/furniture polish/etc) with natural/organic products.  The cost of commercial, chemical-based products can be not only long term-health problems for the family, but also environmental pollution caused by their manufacture, use, and disposal. See http://www.worldwatch.org/node/1484 for more info... and also type "natural cleaning products" into your browser search engine

Avoid chemical intensive lawn care (and instead plant water tolerant/native plants instead of the standard suburban lawn...a major drain on water supplies).  Toxic lawn chemicals pose hazards to human health, wildlife, and drinking water sources. See http://beyondpesticides.org/pesticidefreelawns/index.htm and http://www.chesapeakebay.net/info/toxics1.cfm

Avoid plastic (bottles/bags/Styrofoam/toys/etc)!  Not only is it toxic to your health, it's polluting our waterways.  The rivers and oceans are choked with plastic trash/debris.  Use natural products like glass/ceramic/wood, re-use whenever possible, and recycle.  See http://www.care2.com/news/member/101256935/423420
and http://www.bestlifeonline.com/cms/publish/travel-leisure/ ...

Conserve water - use low flow showerheads and faucet aerators, low flow toilets, and energy/water efficient appliances.

Educate yourself about these issues and contact your political representatives to urge them to take action.  See http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

And whatever else you can think of that makes sense...the solutions are out there...

And get yourself a good water filter...


]]> Very overwhelming story...what do we do to fix it?

True, the scale of this problem, as with many other environmental problems, is monumental and overwhelming.  But there are definitely solutions, many of which are simple personal actions.  For example:

Eat a plant-based diet (vegetarian/vegan) or close to it - the impacts of raising animals for food, many of which were pointed out in the article, are the biggest contributor to this (and most other) environmental problems (not to mention terrible for your health, and cruel and inhumane for billions of animals).  The majority of grain/soy/corn (80-90%) grown is fed to livestock...which translates into that much more fertilizers/pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, manure, methane, fossil fuel use, water use, land grazing, forest depletion, etc.  Animal production consumes an amount of water roughly equivalent to all other uses of water in the United States combined.   And seafood production also takes an enormous toll on aquatic ecosystems.  Even Einstein said "nothing would benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." See: http://www.earthsave.org , http://www.themeatrix.com , http://www.factoryfarmmap.org/ ,  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/oceans/la-oceans-series ... (Altered Oceans)

Buy organic products - organic agriculture is grown without pesticides, chemical fertilizers, sewage sludge (or genetically modified organisms and ionizing radiation).  Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations.

Reduce your consumption.  Most consumer products require water use at some point in their manufacture, and in turn contribute to water pollution. So reduce, then ru-use, then recycle.

Limit the amount of PPCP's (Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products) you consume/use, and replace those that you currently use with natural/organic products.  [A PPCP is "any product used by individuals for personal health or cosmetic reasons or used by agribusiness to enhance growth or health of livestock. PPCPs comprise a diverse collection of THOUSANDS of chemical substances, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, veterinary drugs, fragrances, and cosmetics." Most of the drugs people take, and the cosmetics/perfumes/deodorants/etc they use, end up in rivers/lakes and our water supplies.  See http://www.campusecology.wsu.edu/page_055.htm for more info.

Replace your conventional toxic cleaning products (laundry and dishwashing detergents/soaps/shampoos/bathroom cleaners/furniture polish/etc) with natural/organic products.  The cost of commercial, chemical-based products can be not only long term-health problems for the family, but also environmental pollution caused by their manufacture, use, and disposal. See http://www.worldwatch.org/node/1484 for more info... and also type "natural cleaning products" into your browser search engine

Avoid chemical intensive lawn care (and instead plant water tolerant/native plants instead of the standard suburban lawn...a major drain on water supplies).  Toxic lawn chemicals pose hazards to human health, wildlife, and drinking water sources. See http://beyondpesticides.org/pesticidefreelawns/index.htm and http://www.chesapeakebay.net/info/toxics1.cfm

Avoid plastic (bottles/bags/Styrofoam/toys/etc)!  Not only is it toxic to your health, it's polluting our waterways.  The rivers and oceans are choked with plastic trash/debris.  Use natural products like glass/ceramic/wood, re-use whenever possible, and recycle.  See http://www.care2.com/news/member/101256935/423420
and http://www.bestlifeonline.com/cms/publish/travel-leisure/ ...

Conserve water - use low flow showerheads and faucet aerators, low flow toilets, and energy/water efficient appliances.

Educate yourself about these issues and contact your political representatives to urge them to take action.  See http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

And whatever else you can think of that makes sense...the solutions are out there...

And get yourself a good water filter...


]]> Comment #5 by hugopottisch http://www.grist.org/article/mississippi3/ Thu, 18 Oct 2007 02:17:22 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/mississippi3/5 Thank you Schrmin

The grist is looking for a new editor? Why do you not apply? they need more than mere journalists and politicians or sociologist or whatever they are given their ecological awareness?

Why does the Grist only apologetically mention the insanely great problem of livestock agriculture? Why can the Grist not prioritize?

The Grist has yet to explain its full position on the FAO UN report claims that livestock is worse than all cars, trucks and planes combined (its 1-2 post were an embarrassing joke). The Grist has yet to take position on the WorldWatch Report that livestock is the number one cause of deforestation, water shortages, species loss, etc.

Grist... where art thou? is your news service not somehow related to the environment? why do you write/think/argue as if you were PC Magazine?

]]> Thank you Schrmin

The grist is looking for a new editor? Why do you not apply? they need more than mere journalists and politicians or sociologist or whatever they are given their ecological awareness?

Why does the Grist only apologetically mention the insanely great problem of livestock agriculture? Why can the Grist not prioritize?

The Grist has yet to explain its full position on the FAO UN report claims that livestock is worse than all cars, trucks and planes combined (its 1-2 post were an embarrassing joke). The Grist has yet to take position on the WorldWatch Report that livestock is the number one cause of deforestation, water shortages, species loss, etc.

Grist... where art thou? is your news service not somehow related to the environment? why do you write/think/argue as if you were PC Magazine?

]]>