Prior to beginning work on this discussion forum, read and watch the following:
• Environmental science: Principles and practices (Links to an external site.)
o Chapter 18: Solid/Hazardous Wastes and Control
• Transformation From Typical Apartment to Happier, More Sustainable Community (Links
to an external site.)
• The New Sustainability Champions (Links to an external site.)
• Education as a Solution (Links to an external site.)
This week, you learned about how urban growth can affect sustainability and how laws and
regulations are often used to limit the environmental damage done by sprawl. For your
engagement activity this week, pretend that you live in a town with a potential water pollution
problem. In your town, pollution rates are higher than average due to a large manufacturing
plant that employs 75% of the town located along the river. Cancer rates and wildlife death in
the town are higher than nearby cities and pollution caused by the plant is the suspected
reason. A potential law is being introduced that will shut down the plant to stop the increasing
cancer risks and environmental degradation. However, if passed, this law will likely bankrupt
the town and most of its citizens. Based on the first letter of your last name, address the
question below:
• Make a strong argument for rejecting the law to close the plant (regardless of how you
personally feel). How will you deal with rising cancer rates in the community with the
plant continuing to operate? Discuss the pros and cons of keeping the plant and how
you feel the pros outweigh the cons. Are there any creative ways to solve both issues
while keeping the plant?
