Social Issues and Psychology:
Psychology & The Environment
Fall, 1997

Environmental News From a Psychological Perspective

March 26, 1997: Study Finds "Dirty Water Scoundrels" Violate Clean Water Act

October 12, 1997: A Shift in Battle to "Save the World"

September 19, 1997: Environmental emergency in Sarawak

August 27, 1997: Peña visits "most dangerous place on Earth"

May 26, 1997:  Houston residents sue Chevron over health problems

March 26, 1997: Study Finds "Dirty Water Scoundrels" Violate Clean Water Act

    It has been found that approximately twenty percent of the nation's industrial, municipal, and federal facilities remain in serious violation of the The Clean Water Act of 1972. The U.S. Environmental Agency (EPA) has found significant non-compliance among these major facilities. According to Dirty Water Scoundrels, a report issued by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG), these violations occurred at least once during a recent fifteen month period. It has been discovered that waterways are still being used as private sewers and many industrial facilities are currently exceeding their pollutant limits by more than fifty percent, all at the cost of the environment. These violations illustrate that polluters have little incentive to clean up their act. For more infomation go to, Factors Which Contribute To High Levels of Non-Compliance and Conclusions which outline incentives for compliance. For a more in-depth analysis by Amy Henn, Ehren Hines,  Jeff Lewis & Mike Kurka, click here.

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October 12, 1997: A Shift in Battle to "Save the World"

"For environmental groups, success in the 1990s means giving up the fight to save the world and instead battling for what Americans really care about: things in their own backyard." This article discusses the problem of environmental groups to get involvement from the American general public. With slightly improved awareness and conditions of ecosystems, Americans are less likely to donate time or money to global environmental causes or organizations that were once prevalent. The solution is to seek out environmental problems that are "closer to home". In this manner the public will feel that they are actually making a difference with environmental issues that affect them.  For a more in-depth analysis by Chad Crandell, Julie Curtis and John Ward, click here.

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September 19, 1997: Environmental emergency in Sarawak

    On September 9, in Sarawak, Malaysia, the air pollution index rose to a historical high of 635, nearly doubling the "hazardous" level for air pollution. This caused a state of environmental emergency. People were asked to stay indoors in order to avoid possible health problems caused by haze in the air. This haze was produced by land clearing. Over 50 companies are accused of participating in setting fire to large areas of land. The effects of these fires are spreading to surrounding countries, such as Singapore and Thailand, causing their air pollution levels to rise. Cooperative efforts from the entire Indonesian government are being made to locate and extinguish the fires. In addition, the ASEAN is going to launch a war on haze, in hopes of stopping and possibly reducing the air pollution. For more information, go to "Southeast Asia Smog Symptom of Environment Neglect." For a more in-depth analysis byWendi Hauck, Shannon Ingalls, Cory King, and Mary Krebsbach, click here.

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August 27, 1997: Peña visits "most dangerous place on Earth"

On Wednesday, August 27th, U. S. Energy Secretary Federico Peña went to the nuclear power facility at Hanford, Oregon to reassure workers there.  In May of this year an explosion at the plant exposed workers who were attempting to decontaminate the facility to possibly dangerous levels of plutonium and other toxic chemicals.  As reported by CNN, Peña announced that new rules would be implemented to improve emergency response and the medical care of workers.  How would this reassurance, as well as the original accident, be interpreted by some of the authors discussed in Chapter 11 of Gardner & Stern?

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May 26, 1997:  Houston residents sue Chevron over health problems

     Human interaction with complex systems:  Outbreaks of cancer and other related illnesses have spurred residents of the Kennedy Heights community of Houston, Texas to sue the oil company Chevron. Residents believe their health problems are caused by oil from storage tanks the company left on the land seeping into the water supply. The lawsuit has been surrounded by cries of environmental racism since the community is African American. Jesse Jackson has joined the cause and is calling for a boycott of Chevron products. Chevron refuses to pay for damages until proof has been found of water contamination. Take notice of how the characteristics of long term delays, exponential growth, and irreverisible damage have affected this community.  For additional articles on this issue, go to the Houston Chronicle website and search on "Kennedy Heights and Chevron." For a more in-depth analysis by James Berling, Marianna Panova, and Denise Sobieski, click here.

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