Our Struggle for Freedom, Civil Liberties and Political Equality: Essay Example

Option 1: This week, you have reflected on liberties and freedom. Describe one environmental risk to public health. What role should the government play within this context? Based on the Bill of Rights, how can citizens regulate environmental health risks?

The more research I do into toxins, the more risks I find in the environment that could and is causing public health concerns. In my opinion, one of the largest issues I see in our country right now is water quality. While we certainly have cleaner drinking water than some other countries to be a first-world country with the knowledge and resources we have I would have to say our drinking water does not live up to that. Studies have been done that have shown our drinking water contains multiple contaminants such as arsenic and fluoride, both have the potential to cause many health issues (Fawell et al,. 2003). I have also seen many studies that have shown high levels of heavy metals in the drinking water and when one’s body begins to build up with heavy metals it can cause everything from chronic fatigue to autoimmune disorders. In 1974 the Safe Drinking Water Act was passed by Congress which laid out the standards for safe and good quality drinking water and also helped monitor states, local authorities, and water suppliers enforcing those standards (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). Unfortunately, these standards were researched and put into place 40 years ago. Based on new research and ongoing research we have gained light years of knowledge since then.

The government should be taking steps to update what is considered safe drinking water and work on finding larger-scale ways to put that into place. As an individual, I do have access to purchase whole-home health filtration systems, individual sink and shower filters, and smaller-scale filtration devices. While I believe I am fortunate to have access to these things they are also expensive and I believe with the water quality being what it is and causing a health risk to all citizens that the government should own that and take responsibility to fix it.

As a citizen based on the Bill of Rights, I have options to bring this issue to light in the hopes of changing it. we can use our protected rights under the Bill of Rights to advocate for reform. One of the protected rights under the Bill of Rights I could utilize includes things such as the right to assemble peacefully through such things as protests and make the government aware of concerns protected by our First Amendment (Greenburg et al,. 2018). The First Amendment allows the citizens the right to help in influencing many things including environmental health regulations

Response – Our Struggle for Freedom, Civil Liberties and Political Equality Essay

Hi,

Your post presents an informative discussion on an environmental risk for public health, the role that the government plays in the context, and the position of citizens in regulating environmental health risks. I like that you identify toxins in drinking water sources as an environmental risk that presents public health concerns, citing studies on how USA drinking water sources contain contaminants like arsenic and fluoride. In addition, I like that you identify the position of the legislature in addressing concerns about safe drinking water through legislation that sets out standards for what constitutes safe and good quality drinking water. Besides that, I like that you identify the government’s laxity in enforcing the legislation. Additionally, I like that you identify the citizens role in regulating the environment, noting that each individual has a responsibility of ensuring intake of safe drinking water by using small-scale filtration devices. Furthermore, I like that you identify advocacy as an option that citizens can explore to bring attention to the issue of contaminated drinking water, and ensure adequate measures are taken to address and reverse the situation. While your discussion post is well presented, I feel that it can be improved by identifying the position of citizens in regulating the environmental health risk through environmental citizenship. This involve undertaking responsible pro-environmental behavior by participating in society as change agents. They can participate in the public and private sphere through individual and collective actions to develop healthy relationships with the environment, achieve sustainability, prevent creation of new contaminants, ensure proper disposal of contaminants, and decontaminate water sources (Stoett & Lamalle, 2023). Overall, the discussion post is well presented, but can be improved by mentioning the need for individual and collective action to bring attention to the issue, reverse the situation, and prevent future occurrence.

Reference

Stoett, P., & Lamalle, S. (2023). Representations and Rights of the Environment . Cambridge University Press. Our Struggle for Freedom, Civil Liberties and Political Equality Essay