The sewage treatment plant in Oakland is near West Oakland
where interstates 80 and 880 intersect. The neighborhood directly adjacent to
the plant is called Clawson, and I was surprised to discover that this
neighborhood underwent many improvements throughout the early 2000s and is a popular
place to live in Oakland, and not cheap. Since this area of Oakland was very
different up until the late 1990s, I would guess that the treatment plant was
placed here during that time. Fortunately, it seems that although there was
likely some environmental injustice during the time the plant was established,
it is not as much anymore due to the more affluent neighborhoods surrounding the
plant itself. I personally do not know much about that area of Oakland, since I
don’t get out much, but from what I’m reading this seems to be true.
Getting people in India to use toilets will likely take a
large culture change. The report on fining people for defecating in public is
likely not going to bring about large change because fining those that already
cannot afford a toilet is not going to make them able to afford one. I do not know
what other types of ideas have been tested in rural areas of India, but I
wonder if there is some sort of transition phase that could occur, such as
using outhouses or something similar. I think that educating young people about
sanitation is an important part of that, and it looks like that part is has
already begun. I wonder if outhouses placed in specific areas would help reduce
the amount of waste lying out in the open. This may not be feasible, however,
depending on the population using the outhouses.
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ReplyDeleteIt seems that basic education has been lacking for many years and continues among the people of India, mostly in rural areas where open defecation is an acceptable practice. Even when a small home installs a toilet which has a large tube (hole) in which to defecate, it's placed too close to a family's drinking water source. One solution would be to look at the various villages one by one and discuss the problems with an anthropologist or social scientist to better understand the culture of the group. Local leaders, such as clergymen and village medical persons may provide some assistance with instructing the villagers on the benefits of using the toilets to prevent disease and protect their children from harm. Many organizations who want to help change this behavior find it difficult because they don't consider that cultural and social norms must shift. Because it has been an acceptable practice for centuries, the government may want to consider using village champions that have been trained to monitor these toilet systems, make repairs, and report back the successes or failures of toilet use in the community. This also makes a difference when it comes to safe drinking water. If you can get the mothers involved in helping their children use the toilet, there may be a chance for future generations.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/jul/25/india-sanitation-drive-toilet-or-safe-drinking-water-stark-choice
I was watching the news about San Francisco and one of the news that catch my attention was that SF also as a problem with homeless people defecating on the streets, I also think the city should provide with basic services for them and educating them about proper hygiene will be helpful.
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