9/ 3/ 20

Environmental issues in the Caribbean

1. Water pollution
• Contamination of bodies of water such as lakes, ocean and drivers
• Sharma (2005) defines it as " the addition of excess undesirable substance to water to make
it harmful to man, animal or aquatic life or otherwise....
Causes
1. Agricultural activity
2. Oil spills
3. Dumping of garbage, old appliances, plastic and other water materials
Effects
1. Unsafe for drinking
2. Destruction of wildlife and natural ecosystems
3. Increase potential for flooding

Caribbean response - Jamaica's national oil spill plan

2. Noise pollution
1. Used to describe the occurence of unwanted or disturbing sounds that affect the overall
quality of life
2. Noise pollution disrupts everyday activities such as sleeping or reading
3. State of constant disturbing sound

Kumar (2004) noose = noise pollution when :

1. Inherent unpleasantness of the sound
2. Persistence and recurrence of the sound
3. Whether the sound interferes with the listener's activities
Causes
1. Industrial activity
2. Construction related noise
3. Road traffic
4. Festivities, entertainment and other social gatherings

Effects
1. Temporary hearing loss which may become permanent dem prolonged high intensity
 exposure

2. Increased levels of anxiety and stress and an increase in heart rate

3. Unborn babies and young children may ne affected
4. Animals may become frightened

Caribbean response
- countries attempt to regulate noise pollution by prescribing levels

3. Land pollution
1. Contamination of the earth's land surface through dumping of industrial waste
2. Improper disposal of garbage
3. Misuse of pesticides and other agricultural chemicals
4. Contributory factors to water pollution

Causes
1. Littering
2. Agricultural practices
3. Construction
Effects
1. Chemical fertilizers leach into soil
2. Create breeding ground for mosquitoes,rats
3. Dumping grounds are unsightly and detract from the cleanliness of the landscape

Response
1. Anti litter acts
2. Dumping fines
3. Treat of prosecution

4. Deforestation
1. R4moval of trees without planting others in their place
2. Trees are removed from agriculture, firewood, housing, industrial development, lumber
Consequences
1. Soil erosion
2. Destruction of animal habitat
3. Medicinal plants
4. Trees act as wind breakers
5. Greenhouse effect and global warming

Case study - deforestation in Haiti

• Forest cover 12%
• Large tracts of land have been cleared
• In the era of rebellions, revolutions and dictatorship, the poor raided the forest for cooking
fuel. This continues today.
• Landscape is bleak, denuded of trees and soil
• Tops soil has been removed, agriculture is parse and water is scarce
• Deforestation has quickened the cycle of poverty
• Urbanization has led to: overpopulation, shanty towns, scattered communities
• Abject poverty and hunger are common place

5. Climate change
• Changes in the earth's climatic conditions include :
1. Raising temperatures
2. Raising sea levels
3. Shrinking ice sheet in Greenland and Antarctica
• Caribbean islands are affected by raising sea levels, warming sea waters and hurricanes
easing sea levels causes dislocation of communities
Causes
1. Global warming caused by human activity
2. Variations in solar energy
3. Changes in currents
4. Movements in land masses
5. Volcanic activity

Effects
1. Poverty puts most at risk for negative effects which include :
• Land slippage destroys homes
• Most depends on subsistence agriculture and the land needed in vulnerable to flooding
• May laid off in time of disasters
• Vector borne diseases are a treat
 11/ 3/20

Health

Absolute:
a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of deases and
infirmity (according to WHO definition )

Relative (sociological):
• good health depends on one's culture, physical environment and age.

• Illich describes good health as the ability to function effectively in many environments...this
can only be achieved when we come to terms with our various aches and pains and less
perfect physical and mental conditions

Indicators of health
1. Date rate : killer diseases, minor cases
2. Infant mortality: environmental, economical factors
3. Morbidity: seek medical attention ( sick leave)

Theories

1. Fuctionalist - Talcott Parsons

• Role of illness and the need to maintain stability
• When members of society are..., society cannot run smoothly
• Parson identified the concept of the 'stick role'
• There are four associated cultural explanations:
1. Sick people are relieved of normal duties
2. Sick people are not responsible for their conditions
3. The condition is undesirable and must be treated
4. Sick people MUST seek medical attention
• Doctors play an important role, they must find ways of helping or curing the sick
• Bilton (1996) doctors are expected to
1. Assess people's claims of illness
2. Restore them to heath
3. Apply skills and expertise
4. Adhere to professional codes of conduct
• Patients must follow doctor's directions and provide all necessary information
• Modern societies operate on meritocratic principles and such as all members of society
should be able to access medical service

Criticism of fictional theory on health

1. Not all sick people go to the doctor
2. Even through Parsons suggests that doctors treat everyone eequally. This is not the case

Marxist theory
• All diseases are related to capitalism
• In the productive process, workers are exposed to dandangerous situations eg. Carcinogens
like asbestos, mental and chemical
• Some of these are linked to Male cancers
• Accidents in are the workplace also common
• Bourgeoisie encourage lower classes through media into unhealthy consumption patterns
• The working class faces several disadvantages:
1. Unable to afford health insurance
2. Do not visit doctor regularly
3. hardly eat nutritious food
4. Unable to afford medication

• This group has a highly mortality rate

• Inequality in the health sector can be linked to underdevelopment
• Ehrenelch (1978) prof it motivates the medical profession pharmaceutical companies make
millions from drug sales

Criticism
1. Government has pass laws to protect workers
2. Marxist ignore gender and ethnic groups

Interacgionist theory
Negotiation, labeling, and self fulfilling prophecy

• Doctor- patient relationship depends on each situation

• Doctors dictate how the patient should behave
• In acute stage or illness, the doctor is expected to be dominant (adult - child)
• In the recovery stage the patient must be actively involved (adult - adult)
• In the adult - child approach there is negotiation regarding the patient's feelings, concerns and
symptoms
• Once diagnosed the patient is labelled as good or in good health
• This demonstrate how important communication is
Criticism
• Marxist claims heath care is based on social class

Feminist theory
• Concerns is expressed about the subordinate of females in the health sector
• Men are giving dominance and are allowed to make decisions concerning women bodies
• Medical texts and journals contains patriarchal attitudes towards women for eg. Bilton
(1996) states that anxiety, depression, sleeplessness and migraines are associated with
women
• With disorders inhibiting movements and strenuous activity
• There is a good gender based division of labour with most women placed in the para medical
sector as nurses, assistants ect

Criticism
1. More women have asses to healthcare
2. More are being trained for the medical field

Last modified: 9:52 AM