Living Downstream

1
Living Downstream

• with the right to know
• comes the duty to inquire
• Sandra Steingraber, prologue

2
Steingrabers Goals and Perspectives

• To explore the relationship(s) between
  environmental contamination and the incidence of
  cancer.
• To understand why she (and many other members of
  her adopted family) got cancer.
• To educate and mobilize citizens calling for
  full disclosure and social action.

3
Cancer and Silence

• Sara Weir
• Sandra Steingraber
• Rachel Carson

4
Rachel Carson

• "We still think in terms of conquest.  We still
  haven't become mature enough to think of
  ourselves as only a tiny part of a vast and
  incredible universe.  
• But man is a part of nature and his war against
  nature is inevitably a war against himself. 
• Water, which is probably our most important
  natural resource, is now used and reused with
  incredible recklessness.  
• Now, I truly believe that we must come to terms
  with nature, and I think we are challenged as
  mankind has never been challenged before to prove
  our maturity and our mastery, not of nature, but
  of ourselves."  

5
Carson at the birdfeeder
6
Three forms of silence

• About debates with government agencies and
  bureaucracies.
• The extinction of a chorus of living voices
  (Steingraber, p. 16).
• Political economy of scientific research.

7
The fourth form of silence

• Silence about Carsons breast cancer
• Carson was diagnosed in 1960, in the thick of
  researching and writing Silent Spring
  (Steingraber p. 21).

8
Third wave feminism

• Organization of the book.
• Drawing on personal experience as a source of
  knowledge.
• Eco-feminism emphasis on the interconnectedness
  of all forms of life.

9
Upstream focus

• Steingraber is hopeful calling for a human
  rights approach (p. 269).
• She urges further scientific exploration of
  ecological roots - beyond heredity, genetics,
  and life-style (Ecological Roots).
• The precautionary principle prevent harm
  before it occurs (p. 270).
• The principle of reverse onus it is safety,
  rather than harm, that should necessitate
  demonstration (p. 270).
• The principle of the least toxic alternative.

10
Final assignment

• You may take an in-class exam on Tuesday, March
  16, at 1 pm. This exam will focus on the
  assigned reading in the last section of course,
  including an essay question on Living Downstream
  and short identification items on several of the
  assigned readings from Voices of a New Generation
  (especially Articles 9, 11, 13, and 16).
• Or
• Analyze and discuss Sandra Steingrabers book
  Living Downstream in light of one the themes
  discussed in class (Third-wave feminism, silence,
  womens health and environment contamination, or
  the upstream focus human rights and the right
  to know.) Be sure to relate your response to a
  theme or themes introduced in the class. Your
  essay should be no more than four pages in
  length, word processed and supported with
  citations. It is due by 12 noon, Tuesday March
  16, Arntzen Hall 415.

11
What if you have done your best work already?

• The third option is not write another paper or
  final exam. If you select this option
• The 20 allotted to this assignment will be
  evenly divided between the first two writing
  assignments.
• You must agree to attend class on Thursday
  prepared to discuss Steingrabers book.
• You must agree to attend and participate in a
  discussion of the readings for the final section
  of the course at 100 pm, Tuesday March 16, AH
  416 (Seminar room).