ENVIRONMENTALISM

MORE THAN WHAT MEETS THE EYE

[icebergdotcom]

ENTRY 5

It’s the final day and I’ve completed my website just in time. I had a bit of trouble finding donation sites that were ethical and up-front about where their money goes. I managed to make a picture for the avatar and the background image of the first page the viewer sees when visiting. I think this bit of added effort will reflect on my grade, as the colour scheme matches the rest of my site and looks attractive and put together.

My website’s name comes from my first entry, where I described environmentalism as an iceberg in the sense that it goes a lot deeper than it looks. That also influenced the image I drew, which depicts the submerged part of an iceberg with fish surrounding it. It also has the site name in front of it all. I thought it would be nice to name it after my first entry because that was the first thing I wrote for it, and it’s come a long way.

I hope that my website helps provide some helpful information to those who haven’t really thought about how disability and medical waste tie into environmentalism. Overall I believe I stuck to the rubric well and brought up some good points.

[icebergdotcom]

SOLUTIONS

Ableism in general:

Do your research.

Click here for the site’s resource page!

Researching topics that you are unfamiliar with is an extremely important part of truly understanding what needs to change and why.

Ask questions

If you don’t know any disabled people who are comfortable answering questions, try to ask people on forums like https://www.reddit.com/r/disability/ 

If you do, remember to avoid invasive or offensive questions.  Asking questions is a great effort you can make to understand the lives of individual disabled people! 

Push for accessibility.

Have you noticed that a restaurant isn't accessible? Are there no ramps or designated parking for disabled people? This is where you can step in!

Asking place owners directly or your local council can call attention to any accommodations that aren't in place where they can be. 

Creating petitions can back up your request. Asking around the community and disabled people will spread the word to them too. 

Avoid ableist language

Click here for some examples!

Call out others.

Asking others not to make jokes about, mock or belittle disabled people offers a learning opportunity. Sharing resources with friends and family can back up your reasons for asking them to use alternative language. 

Seek out blogs, social medias and websites of activists 

Bonus points if the activist is disabled themself!

Learning from individuals is a helpful way to avoid grouping all disabled people and their opinions together. 

Educate children, and encourage them to learn how they can treat disabled people kindly

Click here to find the site’s resources page!

Medical waste:

Sorting hazardous waste from recyclable waste will lessen the amount of recyclable materials from being recycled. 

According to practicegreenhealth.org, hospital beds can produce over 13kg per bed every day. But 85% of this waste contains materials like cardboard, food, glass and plastic- which are recyclable! If hospitals sorted this portion from the 15% of hazardous waste, the medical industry could reduce the footprint they leave on the earth.

Sign petitions encouraging change.

Click here for the site’s resources list and look for the petitions list!

Donate

Click here for the site’s resources list and look for the donations list!

Green guilt:

Do what you can. Biting off more than you can chew can be discouraging. Set achievable goals and tasks that you are capable of. Don’t make other people's standards your own. Everyone is different! Positive self-talk and self-affirmations . Remember that you do not have to be perfect to make a difference. Be kind to yourself! Here is a list of positive affirmations you can use in general- not just when you’re feeling green guilt. Surround yourself with support. Try to make friends with people who build you up, not make you feel inferior. Don’t spread green guilt yourself. Encourage others for what they are doing, not what they could be. Focus on what you are doing, and try not to compare yourself to others.  Remember that not everyone is capable of living sustainably. 

Other things you may be able to do:

Recycle properly.

Check out your council’s list of recyclable and non-recyclable waste. 

Volunteer.

Volunteering to clean up your local area, create community gardens and hosting or attending workshops surrounding sustainability are good ways you can contribute if you can. 

Properly dispose of hazardous materials.

Check out your council’s requirements for handling needles, IVs and other potentially hazardous materials properly.

Choose public transport over a car

Sharing your emissions with others will lessen them greatly.

Use reusable shopping bags

Reusable bags are available in most shops, but if yours don’t, you can buy them here or even make them yourself! 

If you have any other ideas or recommendations, you can submit them here!

[icebergdotcom]

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Barik, D. (2018, November 9). Health Hazards of Medical Waste and its Disposal. NCBI. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7152398/

BBC News. (2019, October 29). The challenge of being disabled and green. https://www.bbc.com/news/disability-50170729

DeMarzo, A. (2019, October 29). How to Be Eco-friendly While Living with a Disability. Rolling without Limits. https://www.rollingwithoutlimits.com/view-post/How-to-Be-Eco-friendly-While-Living-with-a-Disability

Euronews. (2021, March 13). Why it’s hard to live sustainably as a disabled person. https://www.euronews.com/green/2021/03/13/why-its-hard-to-live-sustainably-as-a-disabled-person

Imgrund, M. (2018, November 10). Eco-Ableism: What It Is, Why It Matters and How It Affects Disabled People. Eco Warrior Princess. https://ecowarriorprincess.net/2018/08/eco-ableism-what-it-is-why-it-matters-how-affects-disabled-people/

Somerville, M. (2016, April 26). Inequality of environmentalism: is green movement exclusionary by nature? The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/apr/26/environmentalism-inequality-farmers-market-go-green

Team, P. J. A. (2020, October 7). Green Hospitals: 15 steps to make your hospital eco-friendly. Dr Prem’s Life Improving Guide. https://drprem.com/guide/green-hospitals-15-steps-to-make-your-hospital-eco-friendly/

Terzon, E. (2019, July 17). Australia’s healthcare industry battling “devastating” level of waste, nurses and doctors say. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-13/war-on-waste-hospital-waste-australia-recycling/11306376

Waste | Practice Greenhealth. (n.d.). Practise Greenhealth. Retrieved September 3, 2021, from https://practicegreenhealth.org/topics/waste/waste-0

[icebergdotcom]

RESOURCES

For petitions:

https://www.change.org/p/denr-raise-awareness-in-reducing-improper-medical-waste-disposal-88a79ab8-4a72-49a5-bb98-9fd15b71d3d2  https://www.change.org/p/pharmaceutical-companies-pharmaceutical-companies-must-fund-medicine-packet-recycling-programmes  https://www.change.org/p/boris-johnson-educate-children-on-disability-in-schools  https://www.change.org/p/minister-for-education-environmentalism-as-a-core-subject  https://www.change.org/p/make-taj-hotels-free-of-disposable-plastic-water-bottles  https://www.change.org/p/waverly-council-replace-bondi-shark-nets-with-non-lethal-alternatives?source_location=petitions_browse  https://www.change.org/p/scott-morrison-declare-a-climate-emergency?source_location=topic_page  https://www.change.org/p/seattle-schools-classes-on-ableism-in-seattle 

For donations:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/cranns-accessible-playground?qid=093c039bdca0e3ce5f887979effa4ad8  https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-build-the-first-recycling-plant-in-guinea?qid=0e0922eb66bddd8960263bb699ad2b34 

For creating a letter/email to a politician: 

https://www.apa.org/advocacy/guide/letter-email  https://cpj.ca/writing-a-letter-to-your-mp/  http://www.julianburnside.com.au/asylum-seekers/online-resources/letters-to-politicians-2/  https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/how-to-write-an-effective-letter-to-your-mp/ 

For listening to experiences from disabled people:

https://www.invisibledisabilityproject.org/ableism  https://www.buzzfeed.com/laraparker/cases-of-ableism-people-experienced  http://dh-wordpress.ramapo.edu/SSI-2020/ableism/2020/04/26/32/  https://cdrnys.org/blog/advocacy/a-long-overdue-reflection-on-my-ableism/  https://ankylosingspondylitis.net/living/ableism-examples  https://www.washington.edu/doit/how-ableism-affects-people-disabilities 

For educating children about disability:

https://sbsk.org/  https://www.dvusd.org/cms/lib011/AZ01901092/Centricity/Domain/1318/Disability%20Awareness%20Packet%202.pdf  https://www.goodstart.org.au/news-and-advice/december-2018/how-to-talk-to-children-about-disability  https://www.weareteachers.com/10-tips-teaching-invisible-disabilities-bullying/  https://www.babycentre.co.uk/a1021921/how-to-talk-to-your-child-about-disabilities 

[icebergdotcom]

ENTRY 4

The website is due soon, which was a surprise. My memory gets jumbled up often and I thought it was due way later than it actually is. Taking 10 minutes to continue the task and 10 to lay down has been helpful. Switching between the two every 10 minutes was something I was recommended to do by my psychologist. Slowly but surely, my website is coming together! Fatigue has been a problem, but that is a side effect of the medication I take, and is a symptom of some of my conditions. Reading other people’s websites has been helpful not only to contribute towards my own, but mentally as well. Knowing that my website could be one of those to another person is motivating. 

I haven't had any significant trouble with using tumblr so far, and after you get the hang of it it is really easy to use. In my free time I may be making a logo for my site. This will be helpful for the first section of our rubric, which focuses on presentation. I’ve settled on a colour scheme, and I think that the extra work will be beneficial for my mark. 

[icebergdotcom]

ENTRY 3

Once again, I have ended up switching where I am going to create my website. I have now settled on using tumblr, as it is a lot easier to work with. Recognising that, ironically, my own health issues will limit how much i wanted my site to go in depth of the topic was tough; but ultimately the time limit will not make it possible. I then realised that I can continue working on my website and branch outwards with it after the assignment has been created. I found that encouraging, and have gotten a good chunk of the site done. 

[icebergdotcom]

GREEN GUILT

WHAT IS GREEN GUILT?

Green guilt is a phenomenon in which one is feeling guilty for not being environmentally-friendly when they could, and know they should be. Openaccessgovernment.org explains that a study found that 89% of adults are experiencing this phenomenon, and 47% have felt judgement from others for not living eco-friendly enough. But what about the factors that those who judge don’t take into account? Like:

Availability of sustainable options

Being unable to afford environmentally friendly items

Disabilities that prevent more sustainable alternatives from being useable 

Memory issues- forgetting to choose these alternatives

Shaming others without the full story in general is harmful, but when it comes to sustainability this issue can be even worse. Have you ever felt green guilt? Perhaps you’ve turned your nose up at someone using a single-use item with an alternative in your hand. It’s important to remember that everyone has their own story, and their own reasons. 

GREEN GUILT AND DISABILITY

As mentioned, disability is a factor that can prevent the use of sustainable alternatives. Click here for more information! 

[icebergdotcom]

NOT EVERYONE CAN CONTRIBUTE IN SIGNIFICANT WAYS

What do we do about the waste that so many households of disabled or chronically ill people produce? After all, several environmentally friendly alternatives just aren't accessible to many disabled people, for example:

Metal/silicone/glass and other straw alternatives.  

Metal straws aren't bendable, and require mobility to drink from. Someone unable to sit up and move their neck for example, wouldn't be able to use it. Silicone straws can be difficult to suck fluid through, and someone who is unable to take larger sips wouldn't benefit from it.  Glass straws in general are hazardous, but someone who is unable to control or understand how hard they bite down would be in even more danger. 

There is a reason we used plastic straws for so long- they work! At this time, disabled people generally will have more trouble with using alternatives. 

Biking as transportation

Disabled people often have to use transportation that aren't as environmentally friendly as modes like walking or biking. Cars and buses are some examples.

The Netherlands offers a tax-free twenty two cents per km biked when biking to work. This brings forth the question of what can be done for disabled folks to avoid unfairness, while making contributions to impact the environment in a positive way. 

Cooking a meal instead of having ready-made food (which tend to produce more waste)

Pre-cut and pre-cooked meals often come with more packaging that making the meal would create in the first place. These options are often more accessible for disabled people, as cooking meals can be difficult or even impossible. 

Buying organic food

Making money can be difficult when disabled. Organic food often costs a lot more.

[icebergdotcom]

ABOUT THE WRITER!

Hi! I’m a 17 year old student based in Perth, Australia. Because of health issues, I am unable to go to mainstream school- so for the past few years I’ve been schooling online. This website is a project for english class, which is supposed to surround the environment.

 Because of the experiences I go through aren’t talked about much, I wanted to make my site surround the links between ableism, disability and environmentalism. I originally wanted to do my project on ocean waste or single-use plastics, but I found that many “solutions” to these issues are activities that I and many others are unable to do. My plan is to keep this site up after the project is over and continue adding to it, as this topic is very important to me. I hope that I can help educate others on the issue- able bodied or not!

[icebergdotcom]

MEDICAL WASTE

“Medical waste” refers to the matter that is produced by dentists, hospitals, laboratories or any other practices surrounding health. There are four types of medical waste: Infectious, Hazardous, Radioactive and general. 

While there is some focus on reducing this waste, a lot of medical waste is unnecessary. Single-use items like some surgical tools or food packaging are simply being ignored. But as mentioned, a lot of this waste is unnecessary, and already have more environmentally friendly options like reusable food trays/covers that could cut down waste easily. Of most hospitals I've been to, food comes in small individual packages that create a lot of waste, though in some, the food comes on a tray with a lid over it to keep the food safe. 

[icebergdotcom]

ABLEISM

WHAT IS IT?

Ashley Eisenmenger, a PR coordinator at accessliving.org, says “Ableism is the discrimination of and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior”. 

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Ableism is rooted deeply in almost everything! From our everyday language, to laws, to media- direct, indirect and systemic ableism are undeniable problems. But what does it look like? Here are some examples!

Using derogatory language (eg. “You look retarded” or “What a spaz!”)

Discompliance with laws protecting disabled people

Using designated parking areas or restrooms when being able-bodied

Viewing disabled people as “broken” or “in need of fixing”

Judging disabled people for using accommodations that aren't environmentally friendly

[icebergdotcom]

ENTRY 2

The website I am creating will establish the link between environmentalism and disability. The five links that i will address are: 

Medical; this will discuss the waste that results for medical reasons. For example medicine packaging, IVs and needles, as well as general hospital waste. This will also mention that over 13kg of waste is created daily, per hospital bed. 

The guilt and shame ableism causes; this will be a short reminder of what ableism is and how it can affect people.

Accessible options and the waste they tend to produce; this is another massive cause of plastic waste. Pre-cut and pre-cooked meals often come with more packaging that making the meal would create in the first place. These options are often more accessible for disabled people, as cooking meals can be difficult or even impossible. Another example of this is disabled people forced to use cars and buses as transportation rather than biking or walking. The Netherlands offers a tax-free twenty two cents per km biked when biking to work. This brings forth the question of what can be done for disabled folks to avoid unfairness, while making contributions to impact the environment in a positive way. 

History; this section’s purpose is to remind the viewer of their humanity, and what it means to care- whether that be for the environment or for others. There are many instances of compassion towards disabled people throughout history in which the people around them helped make the world more accessible. I think that doing this will stop people from brushing my website off and forgetting about the subject. 

Solutions; this will be the largest part of my website. I aim to leave it at the end so the viewer knows exactly what and how these solutions will impact the issues I will address earlier on on the site. I have prepared a long list of things that can be done to both help the environment, and disabled people. My site will highlight the importance of the contribution of everyone, as well as the need for more sustainable options for the disabled. Overall, these things would help the environment. 

I want my site to establish and identify issues before it tackles what can be done about them. Ideally the viewer will see it like a root, before they see the bigger picture.

[icebergdotcom]

ENTRY 1

When searching for information on sustainability, a common theme within the various blogs and articles was listing things the reader could do to help the environment. I sat, reading the prompts: Plant a garden. Pick up rubbish. Volunteer. These are all fantastic ways that we can do our part within our communities, but it was disheartening to realise that these are all things I am personally unable to do. With several diagnosed and undiagnosable conditions like chronic pelvic pain and a connective tissue disorder that makes me inoperable for corrective surgery, physical limitations are both frustrating and the root of shame and feelings of inferiority. 

While there are smaller things that I am capable of like sorting rubbish into the correct bins and reusing water bottles, I felt as if I couldn't make nearly as big of a difference as other people can. My main goal of this blog is to encourage others, able-bodied or not, to do their part in ways that they are able to; and to educate on the subject of sustainability. 

When I think of the word “environmentalism”, I picture an iceberg. On the surface are things like recycling and clean energy; but as you dive deeper, you start to see a darker side to it. Racial injustice and ableism are two issues that come to mind. Later on in this blog, I aim to dissect these topics and combat them.