In the heart of Naucalpan De Juarez, Mexico a critical problem exists. Used batteries from the United States are sent here for the extraction of lead. In a nutshell what is happening here is just another example of America trashing other areas of the world, relieving us of any burdens and pressing them on to others. Why is this bad you ask? This toxic and disastrous lead is being found in the air, land, and even inside the bodies of Mexican residents as a result of the fallacious smokestacks, emitting 20 times more chemicals than legally permitted.
It’s no accident that Mexico was chosen for this deadly project. Here, standards reach the bare minimum and what little exist are so little enforced be law officers, they’re almost ignored. What this means is that these extraction plants can continue on to their hearts content without any restrictions or risk of prosecution. One of the chief officers of the Mexican police department has admitted that this area “lacks the money, manpower and technical capacity to police this industry”, making Mexico the ideal location to host an illegal enterprise like this one. And, don’t think for one moment this hasn’t been taken advantage of. One of the only requirements that were given in 2010 is that all exporters tally the number of batteries sent overseas. Seven out of every ten businesses failed to comply and (to no surprise) faced no reparation. Moreover, the integrity of those that did participate cannot be vouched for.
Another supporting factor of why this specific location was chosen for this dilemma is the abundance of extreme desperateness in the towns’ citizens. Although wages are low and conditions are almost suicidal, workers have considered life in this plant their only opportun...
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...d forestry.
Another way to lessen this problem is to move these plants to rural and under populated areas. Right now this problem exists because the plant is on the same block as an elementary school and many family homes. However, if it was situated in an area where not many people live, then less of society would be able to become affected as a result of the distance between them and the source of the issue at discussion.
If no change is made to the crude methods of battery lead extraction in Mexico, not only will deforestation in Naucalpan go to the extreme of ceasing to exist, the entire wildlife population will become endangered, residents will eventually migrate due to drastic rates of sickness. This will lead a lifeless and barren town, creating a domino effect throughout the globe and traveling through the future contaminated water of the Atlantic Ocean.
“Here was a population, low-class and mostly foreign, hanging always on the verge of starvation, and dependent for its opp...
The Carrillo Adobe is in a dire situation. It has not only fallen into disrepair from the many years of weather and use by so many individuals, but by visitors and citizens have been less that kind and considerate of its age and the prominence that it deserves. After Carrillo’s death her house was given to three of her daughters, Marta, Juana, and Felicidad. Then her belongings were distributed between all of her children. In the first decade after her death her different children each occupied the house at different times. One of her daughters, Juana and her husband ran the home as a tavern. They then converted the adobe into the first post office in the town of Santa Rosa. After her daughters no longer had a need for the adobe it was turned into a trading post where numerous individuals...
When faced with inexplicable working conditions, one’s first consideration would be to quit their job and to find a new one. In the case of the factory workers at Hacienda Tijuana, a Mexican tortilla factory, that is certainly not the case. Throughout this article, there are many issues that are presented to the reader. This essay is structured to examine three of the main issues. It begins by looking at the exploitation of the women and their lack of rights as workers in the factory. It examines the analytical framework that would be most appropriate for this situation and then progresses to relate many sociological theories to this issue. Next, it examines the mostly negative effects of globalization, modernization and industrialization. It then follows the same procedure as the previous section and categorizes the issue into the analytical framework model and proceeds to connect it to sociological theories. Finally, the last issue in which this essay discusses is Mexico’s progression to neoliberalism. Overall, this piece of writing addresses, analyzes and discusses many of the targeted issues mentioned in the article through a sociological lens.
Chavez Ravine was a self-sufficient and tight-knit community, a rare example of small town life within a large urban metropolis, but no matter how much the inhabitants loved thei...
At the same time, the local agricultural economy was experiencing a deep economic depression due to the severe droughs that had occured throughout the past decade. The loss of crops cut out the average farmers'/planters' main food source as well a...
The lack of work, food and resources to survive combined with the government outsourcing farmers left no alternative to migration. When serious situations begin to involve families as a whole, a sense of responsibility prevails over all other emotions. Unity, strength and leadership qualities are needed for progression. Members of the family are directly affected both i...
Work in the mills was hard and dangerous. The men worked from six to six, seven days a week. One week on day shifts and one week on night shifts, at the end of every shift the workers worked twenty-four hours. When the men worked the long shift they where exhausted, this made it fatally easy to be careless. Accidents were frequent and the employers did little or nothing to improve the conditions that the workers h...
One out of every six children under the age of six are suffering from health disorders due to the poisonous metal, lead. Lead is a natural occurring bluish-gray metal found in the earth's crust. It has no taste or smell. Lead can easily be found in all parts of our environment today. Most of it comes from mining, manufacturing, and the burning of fossil fuels. In the United States lead poison has increased because of the lack of knowledge in our society. Lead is released into the environment by industries, the burning of fossil fuels or wastes.
It is significant to remark that through The Grapes of Wrath, the structure of the urban setting favors also the landlords to the impairment of migrant farmers. This is quite reminiscent of the thirties when the capitalists lived in the most attractive and breathtaking places, whereas the poor farmers dwelt in unlikely places. This brings abou...
To the northeast part of Arizona lay a conflict between two indigenous groups from the surrounding area and the world’s largest coal company formerly known as Peabody Coal (now Peabody Energy). The Hopi and Navajo reservations surround a region known as Black Mesa. Black Mesa is located on both the Navajo and Hopi Reservations which is a target source for underground water called the N-aquifer. The N-aquifer contains a great amount of pristine Ice Age water. As time drew on, many indigenous people were alarmed that the water was carelessly being depleted from their land. Mining on Black Mesa should be stopped because the inhabitants are affected by Peabody, livestock in the area must depend on the local springs, groundwater is being depleted at an average of 3.3 million gallons per day, and the water is being contaminated (SBMW Online par 1).
This tragedy pointed out the negatives of sweatshop conditions of the industrialization era. It emphasized the worst part of its times the low wages, long hours, and unsanitary working conditions were what symbolized what sweatshops were all about. These conditions were appalling, and no person should ever be made to work in these conditions.
Throughout this mining process a byproduct is created called chat. The chat is leftover rock and waste from mining that did not contained the desired materials. The chat was left on the site because the Bureau of Indian Affairs thought it could be of value to the Quapaw tribe (1). This chat contained high levels of toxic lead and other harmful chemicals. It is estimated that there are 75 Million tons (150 billion pounds) of chat piles remaining exposed to the environment as well as numerous flotation ponds that haven’t been taken into account (4).
Then the documentary tackles Puget Sound. The Duwamish River is the largest hot spot in the nation. In 2001, the Duwamish River was classified as a “Super Fund” site. This is given to a site that will receive federal assistance for clean up. But yet, it may be too late. Puget Sound in contaminated with PCP, lead and mercury. The threat comes from the giant industrial polluters of old and from chemicals in consumers’ face creams, deodorants, prescription medicines and household cleaners that find their way into sewers, storm drains, eventually into America’s waterways and drinking water.
South Central Farm was a 14-acre plot of land that was ran and operated as a fully functional urban farm. It provided much needed support to the community around the farm, that consisted mostly of lower-income and minorities. The farmers, who ran the largest urban city farm at the time, used it for monetary benefit as well as psychological benefit to the community. By growing their own steady supply go goods, many who would not have access to these products normally, benefited immensely from the farm’s existence. If the farmer’s had had the monetary means for remaining on the land, the closing down of the farm could have been avoided.
By this account, one may better understand the helpless feeling of the farmer. The pressures are there, both economic and social, to expand. When the farmer is conscience of this drifting away from a more direct contact with the soil, as Meyers' father was, the sadness may be greater, but even farmers who are not alert to what is happening will suffer. This is ...