Philena Rush 12/12/05

As a representative for the wellness company and a minority.. It's imparative we are more concerned about our health for minorities. Esp. Low income families.

Part One: Case Study
The basic definition behind Environmental Discrimination involves having people of minority groups or backgrounds be more likely exposed or contaminate by toxic chemicals or wastes because of their heritage, primary language, income, creed, or race. Although this act is in many ways appalling, it is not hard to believe. This is not the only case or instance in which a particular group or people have been discriminated against because of differences they might exhibit from the rest of their population.
Many who learn about Environmental Discrimination (or ED) wonder why it is that usually low income or minority sections of cities in the United States are affected by this. In all honesty, the reason for why the majority of people affected by ED are lower income is because many factors that contribute to being a low income family actually work to benefit those doing the discriminating. For example, usually, low income families or heads of household of low income families have less education that would a better off citizen. Because of their education, or lack thereof, lower income citizens tend to not question or wonder about those toxins, or wastes that might affect them. Also, because of the lack of money, low income families have less time (since the devote it to other activities - such as working) and money to spend on even trying to correct the problem. Thirdly, lower income families tend to live in lower income neighborhoods. Therefore, the houses, apartments, etc. that they live in are many times not as attractive for people in which case this serves as yet another reason for why these companies or corporations dump their wastes in these areas - less people will find out (since less people visit these areas).

Many minorities don't realize that we have such of high level of asthma, allergies, autism, excema... etc.. is because of toxic air pollution.. indoors and outdoors. But it's also very upsetting that most feel as though they can't effort to change their buying habits being on a low income.

But that's not really the reason minorities will not make a change. And what's truely sad about it, commercial manufacturers of household products (know for toxic chemicals in their products) highly target minorities in their advertising and sponsoring. For example, Tide (Protor & Gamble) has been very active in sponsoring concerts for R&B and Rap concerts. Esp.. back to school free concerts!

But what's in Tide?

Tide & Cheer Detergent
Detergent: Can cause temporary respiratory tract irritation. Symptoms include stinging, swelling, or redness. Sodium Silicate: Can be corrosive. Can cause burns to the eyes and tissue damage to the skin, as well as cause burns to the mouth, throat, and stomach if swallowed, Sodium Sulfate: Corrosive, Severe eye, skin, and respiratory irritant. Can cause asthma attacks. Thisodium Nitrilotriacetate: Carcinogen

Are there methods effective? You bet! I don't know one black person who is a strong user of Tide.. Love Tide.. Will never switch from Tide.. and all this is just a scare tactic to sell them something. Even if I tried to prove that they are spending more money buying Tide than safer more effective products, they think since Tide cleans sooo well, that's why it's more expensive than other detergents.

Consider this scenario:

What happened when the product moved from one level down to the next til it reached the customer? Did it improve in quality? No. Did you get more for your money because it went through so many levels? No. But it DID go up in price because everyone had to take their cut. You, the customer, generated the income and paid the price. That illustration above just described every business who sales products in America. How many levels of marketing did that product go through before it reached the customer?

People with asthma, allergies, etc. have found they are saving money in that they need less prescriptions, etc. to fend off attacks and outbreaks. Getting the chemicals out of our homes can have an enormous impact on our health.