The year is 1945 the Second World War is over and the cold war is just beginning; in New Mexico mining of uranium is at its all-time high, mining companies are making millions and the United States government is getting the material to make atomic weapons, all on the back of the Navajo Nation. During the middle of the twentieth century jobs were scarce for much of the population, especially in the Southwest, to make ends meet many Navajo men went to work in the uranium mines. The work was dangerous, the pay was small, and the conditions were deplorable. At the end of the 1950’s cancer rates for miners were higher than any other area of the United States. Even though companies disregarded health reports and the warning signs and officials were slow to address the workers concerns; the Navajo miners, were denied compensation for the suffering they went through (Benally, 1997). The case study can be found at this link http://www.umich.edu/~snre492/sdancy.html
At the beginning of the 1990’s the population in Mexico City, Mexico was 16.8 million and the gross national product (GNP) was a dismal 2,971 U.S. dollars. The increase in the inhabitants of Mexico City was from the arrival of migrants from the surrounding economically depressed areas. The population growth directly impacted the Mexico City’s water and air qualities. In addition, the city was the site of 48% of all Mexican industries; resulting in an increase of demand on natural resources. In 1992, there was an explosion of one of the city’s sewer system, this led to contamination of the water table resulting in more than 100 deaths. The outcome resulted in the creation of the National Institute of Ecology and the Environmental Attorney General. These agencies were tasked with developing environmental regulation and protection guidelines. However, the increase in the oversight from environmental authorities did little combat the increasing urbanization and industrialization in Mexico City (Pennsylvania State University Library).
The first location described in the above is not comparable to my hometown of Swedesboro, New Jersey. The total population of Swedesboro based on the 2010 census is 10,300 people. The majority of the population are upper middle class transplants from Philadelphia suburbs and other areas within the Southern New Jersey. However, the second paragraph is slightly similar to Swedesboro, but close to the pollution laden Mexico City. The reason I can make a comparison is because Swedesboro is located between Salem nuclear power plant and Chester refinery. However, the majority of our community has city water and sewer treatment center, meaning the threat of contamination is minimal. The one condition that I am concerned about is the air quality. The byproduct of the refining process and the release of CO2, NOx, and SO2 is something that will require monitoring.
References
Benally, Timothy, Sr. “Environmental Justice for the Navajo: Uranium Mining in the Southwest.” In Motion (1997). Web. <http://www.umich.edu/~snre492/sdancy.html
“Are Megacities Viable? A Cautionary Tale from Mexico City.” Environment 38.1 (1996). Pennsylvania State University Library.
Hi Joseph!
My name is Peter Han and my intended major is Mechanical Engineering here at Penn State. I wrote my post on the effect that oil had on a community in Nigeria as well as the country of Ecuador. As you discussed in your first case study, the mines were important to the development of weapons for the U.S., but they had devastating effects to the Navajo community. In my first case study, the Ogoni community in Nigeria was impacted in a similar way. The government was drilling for oil in the community and putting them in immediate danger to oil spills as well as pollution. Also, the threat of air pollution is a growing risk in many places in the world and even though it may not seem like it affects me directly, many communities such as your hometown may be dealing with these problems. This is something everyone needs to be more worried about.
Here is a link to my blog: http://geog030.dutton.psu.edu/2016/02/26/the-impact-of-oil-peter-han/
Hi Joseph! In my blog post (http://sites.psu.edu/geog30/2016/02/26/case-studies-alex-deebel/) I talked about child mortality rates in Nepal, and water management in Argentina. Like your first case about cancer in miners, the high child mortality rates in my case were a threat to the population. I also talked about the effect the population and economy in Mexico has on the US in my blog post. I thought it was interesting how you referenced the nuclear power plant in your hometown. The threat of air pollution in my hometown would have me nervous too!