Wk+3



The XClinic provides an outlet for those who choose to be proactive for legislative change rather than wait for changes to happen. Rather than coming to a ‘typical’ clinic for prescriptive medications, the clinic offers prescription for environmental health concerns – things people can do to improve environmental health concerns.
 * 1. XClinic at http://www.environmentalhealthclinic.net/ **

Ms. Jeremijenko is driven by the idea that new technologies are an opportunity for social transformation. In her seminal work with the Environmental Health Clinic at NYU, she attempts to redefine what counts as health. Health issues such as asthma, developmental delays, childhood cancers, obesity and diabetes have strong correlation to the environmental health. Ms. Jeremijenko redefines environmental health as being external – that we can all do something about it as opposed to internal, genetically predetermined or individually isolated.In her scientific studies, Ms Jeremijenko focuses on animals that have a keen sense for the environment as well as those who are biologically similar to humans. Ms Jeremijenko, employs tadpoles due to their sensitive bio senses as they are more sensitive than our own senses for sensing industrial contaminants such as endocrine disruptors or hormone emulators. Mice are employed due to their commonality with humans with respect to their mammalian biology and diet. Hence, they are affected by the same environmental stressors. Unlike the medical model, by framing health in an external way, anything we do to improve our water, and or air quality, or understand it or change it, the benefits are enjoyed by everyone. Furthermore, Ms. Jeremijenko stresses the opportunity that new technologies, new interactive technologies, present to re-script our interactions that can amount to something profound and ultimately address important environmental challenges.
 * 2.Natalie Jeremijenko- her philosophy as a ‘design activist’: **


 * 4. **With no prior experience with a visual essay, I would be willing to explore the possibilities of being able to convey what I witness in a visual form - After all, a picture is worth a thousand words!. HSIM provides a structured guideline as to how I can go about doing my research and to prepare for the assignment, however, I’m concerned with the imposition I might place the company due to confidentiality of the company and its employees.


 * 5. “Blue Gold: The Water Wars” **

The privatization of water which not unlike the air we breathe is a ploy by corporations such as Coca Cola to increase their profit in our capitalistic society. The implications of their actions would ultimately lead to water as a commodity that has already been sold to consumers who are led to believe that ‘clean’ drinking water can only be had through purchases – that the current quality of our tap water does not meet the ‘standards’. Ultimately, the commodification of our most basic needs will engender an ideology that will normalize the purchasing habits of consumers for the benefit of corporations who seek to increase their profits for the selling of natural resources which should be free for all to consume. As our natural resources are being depleted, due in part, by the same corporations who neglect their stewardship duties, water will become a natural resource that will inevitably be a source of contention for those who want to monopolize the depleting resource.

Maude Barlow resides as the National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians in addition to chair of the board for the Washington based International Forum on Globalization and Councilor with the Hamburg-based World Future Council. As a recipient of eleven honorary doctorates and numerous awards; among her notable awards are; 2005 Right Livelihood Award, and the Citation of Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2008/2009, Barlow served as Senior Advisor on Water to the 63rd President of the United Nations General Assembly. Among the 16 books she authored and coauthored, the best seller, Blue Covenant: The Global Water Crisis and The Coming Battle of the Right to Water.
 * 6. Maude Barlow: **

The United Nations General Assembly has declared for the first time that access to clean water and sanitation is a fundamental human right. In a historic vote, 122 countries supported the resolution. Barlow helped engineer this monumental reaffirmation of the “right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights.”
 * 7. Monumental Resolution: **