May
1
*Note: To add on to the post below, a big chunk of Massachusetts just got a boil water order because of a “catastrophic” leak in an aqueduct. What would Concord do in this situation with no bottled water at the stores?*
Source: boston.com
Read Article
CONCORD — For years, Jean Hill has been reading about the environmental consequences of the countless plastic bottles filling landfills and polluting local waters. She has watched as other towns around the country have cut purchases of bottled water, which she views as a wasteful, environmentally damaging alternative to tap water.
This week, after lobbying neighbors and local officials for months, the 82-year-old activist persuaded them to take more drastic action than perhaps any other municipality in the country: At Town Meeting on Thursday, Concord residents voted to ban all sales of bottled water.
Concord just voted to make a very drastic change. It is indeed true that bottled water (and anything bottled, for that matter) can lead to environmental waste if not properly recycled, and I do also see the point that having bottled water in your home could be redundant considering that there is the tap. Such a vote, however, doesn’t look at the whole story.
Let’s say that I’m visiting the town and I really want something to drink. I head to one of their convenience stores and now, bottled water is no longer an option. I have a choice between Snapple, Vitamin Water, Gatorade, and a variety of sodas (among other things, of course), but not water. What if I’m just visiting town and I want water? I don’t want sugary drinks. What do I do then? Knock on someone’s door and ask for access to their tap? Bottled water can be wasteful to the environment, but come on, now: there are times when people want to carry bottles with them, especially while on the road. Sure, it mostly won’t bother the townsfolk that much, the people who can get water from their house before leaving. But for people who go to the store because they’re thirsty on the spot, because they want something to drink right at that moment and they didn’t plan ahead, you just took out their healthiest option. Unless, of course, you plan on having some sort of water cooler at every store. Also:
“I am sure this was a well-intentioned proposal in Concord, but I think it’s misguided, because it’s based on misinformation, misconception, and mischaracterization of a product that has a lot of benefits,’’ said Chris Flynn, president of the Massachusetts Food Association, which represents the state’s supermarkets and groceries. “Bottled water is used in times of need, often in natural disasters. It’s also a healthy product.’’
What does happen when there is a natural disaster and the tap’s no longer clean?
Lastly, while Jean Hill does point to a study that says that 88% of plastic water bottles are not recycled, that doesn’t mean that you should prevent people from using it entirely. Remember one of those principles of economics? The one that says that people respond to incentives? We should instead be working more to push people to recycle, not take things away from them just because they’ve failed to do so.
Mar
11
Source: boston.com
Read Article
A bill that would ban the sale of sugary drinks and junk food in school vending machines and school stores is gaining momentum in the Legislature, as Massachusetts combats a troubling rise in childhood obesity rates.
The House passed it in January, after nearly a decade of debate on similar bills that went nowhere. Now, Senate President Therese Murray has thrown her support behind the effort and is optimistic that members will embrace it in a scheduled Senate vote today.
Removing junk food offered in schools will not completely solve the problem. The bigger problem is that some schools spent so much time cutting physical education classes because of budget deficits. What we need to do, some way, somehow, is bring those classes back. If we get students moving for 45-60 minutes a day, childhood obesity rates will go down because they’re burning off all that food they’re eating while simultaneously having fun. I remember physical education being cut at my high school past 8th grade because of budget deficits – this left the high schoolers at Latin Academy with no movement of any sort – just six straight hours of either sitting in chairs, moving toward the next class, or eating lunch.
We need to encourage parents to engage their students in healthy exercise and also provide classes for students to exercise as well. Exercise should especially be stressed at the elementary school level (of course, the necessary accommodations and modifications will be made for children on IEPs) and classes containing such should be offered throughout grade school. Exercise is how we get students in shape.
Jan
9
Spending Disparity
Filed Under Link, Politics | Leave a Comment
Source: Boston.com
Read Article
[Arnold Schwarzenegger] said that in the last 30 years, prison spending increased from 3 percent of the state general fund to 11 percent while higher education spending declined from 10 percent to 7.5 percent.
“Spending 45 percent more on prisons than universities is no way to proceed into the future,’’ he said.
This op-ed by Derrick Z. Jackson brings up California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposal to bar the state from spending more on prisons than on higher education. I agree that we should not spend more money on prison than education. Perhaps this definition of “education” should extend beyond postsecondary education. How about all schools? Or, in general, how about we pay more attention to rehabilitating criminals than to just locking them up repeatedly? I agree with Jackson’s ending point regarding the cocaine laws:
The laws are so embarrassing that this week, in an interview with the Boston Globe editorial board, Democratic senatorial candidate and Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley called the cocaine laws “crazy.’’ It is refreshing to hear a Democrat like her and a Republican like Schwarzenegger say that our criminal justice priorities are insane, with education always getting the strait-jacket. It is the first step out of the asylum.
Jun
26
A brilliant response. The original comment by Iran’s President is here (from CNN).
May
28
Kennedy’s Health Bill
Filed Under Link, Politics | Leave a Comment
Senator Kennedy wrote a piece on a health bill that he will introducing to Congress, and I must say, I like the sound of it. I recommend that you read it (from Boston.com):
OVER THE LAST YEAR, I’ve seen our healthcare system up close. I’ve benefitted from the best of medicine, but I’ve also witnessed the frustration and outrage of patients and doctors alike as they face the challenges of a system that shortchanges millions of Americans.
We have the greatest doctors and medical innovations in the world, but more and more Americans are on the outside looking in to a world of progress and discovery that is denied to them because they cannot afford quality healthcare.
That’s wrong – and it’s about to change.
Click here for more.