Ishmail R.

Coleman 4/9/15 Structured Commentary Week 13

Harper- Breathless in Houston

The reading by Janice Harper elaborates on the concept of political ecology in relation to
the city of Houston, Texas, as well as the political ecology of respiratory disease. The author
argues that political ecology takes a look at the social impact of environmental change in relation
to peoples adaptation to the changes, as well as the forces causing these changes (Harper 2004;
296). An important source of evidence for this argument is when looking at respiratory diseases
like asthma from a political ecology perspective, a lot of factors come into question such as the
air pollution of a specific city, the sanitation of the city, and chemical toxins, which can all cause
asthma attacks, which thousands die from each year, but is often overlooked due to the disease
being more common and “outgrown” by the public (Harper 2004; 301). Also, Houston’s smog
problem and air pollution can be looked at from a political ecology perspective, in which the
majority of Houston’s economy is based in factories, manufacturing, petrochemical, and a dense
population that has a lot of cars and transportation activity; therefore, this city is prone to a lot of
respiratory illness due to these industries (Harper 2004; 304). I enjoyed reading this article
because of its examples of political ecology and how analyzing problems from this perspective
can be very helpful. It placed into perspective how certain regions are affected by the industries
that surround it.

Ahlgren- Rising Oceans, Climate Change, Food Aid, and Human Rights
The reading Ingrid Ahlgren and colleagues elaborates on the effects that climate change
has had on the Marshall Islands and the people who reside there and how the climate change has
affected food and nutrition. The authors argue that due to nuclear weapons testing from the U.S.,
this has caused a change in landscape, in which people had to relocate and find new farmland,
and as a result, a heavy reliance on imported foods became an issue for the people due to people
getting minimum nutrition and disease(Ahlgren et al., 2014; 70). Also, change in climate and
sea levels has caused limited numbers of fertile soil (Ahlgren et al., 2014; 70). An important
source of evidence for the argument is climate related incidents in the Marshall Islands are
common due to their landscape, and the islands are prone to more natural disasters or harsh
weather, which have an effect on the population as far as subsistence, disease, physical damage
to body, and damage to homes, which causes more issues (Ahlgren et al., 2014; 71). During the
period of the Great World Wars, the Marshall Islands were reliant on imported foods from Japan,
and during World War II, the Americans introduced the people to canned rations, in which they
became fond of and continued to import them (Ahlgren et al., 2014; 72). This diet caused poor
nutrition amongst the people of the Marshall Island, and the incident can be analyzed from a
political ecology standpoint. I enjoyed this article because it showed how climate can become a
major factor in affecting the health of the people due to its environmental damage to subsistence
sources, and damage to human life, and also the article showed how cultural influence from
outside sources can change diets and economic imports for regions.

Barbara Johnston and Daniel Jorgensen- Mineral Development

This reading by Barbara Johnston and Daniel Jorgensen elaborates on Papa New
Guinea’s economic growth and their reliance on mineral development in order to generate
income for the country. The authors argue that the reliance on mineral development has caused
certain parts of the country to be affected, in which land from people are taken and
environmental destruction has caused loss of homes and food resources for the people (Johnston
and Jorgensen 1994; 87). An important source of evidence for the argument is that regions in
Ishmail R. Coleman 4/9/15 Structured Commentary Week 13

Papa New Guinea such as the Ok Tedi regions have been affected by mineral development and
extraction to the point where there was metal contamination of the water in the area and has
created a toxic area for fish and humans (Johnston and Jorgensen 1994; 91). Humans are greatly
affected by the mining in which the metal contamination within the water has made it difficult to
farm and has caused a decrease in food production, as well as making the water useable for
bathing, clothes washing, and other means of water usage. I enjoyed this article because it
showcased how something that can be good for a region’s economy can be detrimental to the
people living in the region, which is where the political ecology analysis is effective in
deciphering these causes.

Singer and Baer- Chapter 7

The reading by Merrill Singer and Hans Baer elaborates on the effects of the natural
environment, as well as the impact that the socially constructed environment on human health,
and how this is important to understand from a medical anthropology perspective. The authors
argue that corporate globalization has a major effect on these environments, in which alteration
to environments cause more diseases and illness amongst the people. An important source of
evidence for this argument is that corporations that involve themselves within the globalization
process have an effect on the landscape once they begin to alter it, which may affect the water of
an area, or the land, which can provide problems to the people such as lack of food. Also, by
increasing transportation or becoming reliant on automobiles can cause more air pollution, or any
alteration made to the region in benefit for something can cause a problem for another species or
person. I enjoyed this chapter because it put into great perspective the concept of political
ecology, and how it plays into understanding wider issues.

Conclusion
This week’s reading tie together because it showcases the environments relationship to
human health and how an environments quality can really have an impact on the regions
cleanliness, which has a great impact. Also, the readings showcase how health issues can also be
drawn from political actions or decisions made by governments or higher authoritative figures, in
which the change made can benefit on group of people, but hurt another. Furthermore, this
week’s readings elaborate on the ideas of how political ecology can help solve broader issues
concerning health.