Crime and the environment

Mirador · #1 07-08-2007, 01:49 PM

A community parodoxically called “Paraíso de Dios” in Haina happens to be one of the 10 top contaminated places on Earth, including Chernobyl. Over 90% of children living in this community have about 10 times the maximum allowed blood threshold levels of lead according to the WHO (World Health Organization).

Research links lead exposure, crime

Economist says removing metal from gas, homes has reduced violence

"The theory offered by the economist, Rick Nevin, is that lead poisoning accounts for much of the variation in violent crime in the United States. It offers a unifying new neurochemical theory for fluctuations in the crime rate, and it is based on studies linking children's exposure to lead with violent behavior later in their lives.

Findings hold across countries
What makes Nevin's work persuasive is that he has shown an identical, decades-long association between lead poisoning and crime rates in nine countries.

"It is stunning how strong the association is," Nevin said in an interview. "Sixty-five to ninety percent or more of the substantial variation in violent crime in all these countries was explained by lead."

....

MSNBC

mountainfrog · #2 07-08-2007, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mirador

... "Sixty-five to ninety percent or more of the substantial variation in violent crime in all these countries was explained by lead."

Not surprising.
Most bullets contain lead...

m'frog

Keith R · #3 07-09-2007, 11:22 AM

I know that lead has (finally) been phased out of gasoline in the DR, but has it been entirely removed from paint? I asked this question on board a couple of years ago, and no one could give me an authoritative answer. Emails with the question sent to SESPAS and the paint companies at the time went unanswered.

Mirador · #4 07-09-2007, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith R

I know that lead has (finally) been phased out of gasoline in the DR, but has it been entirely removed from paint? I asked this question on board a couple of years ago, and no one could give me an authoritative answer. Emails with the question sent to SESPAS and the paint companies at the time went unanswered.

There are many sources of lead contamination. I did a quick google and came up with this on the first page...

"Folk medicines, ayurvedics and cosmetics: Some folk medicines contain lead. They often are imported from the Middle East, Southeast Asia, India, the Dominican Republic, or Mexico. Two examples are Greta and Azarcon. Azarcon is a bright orange powder also known as Maria Luisa, Rueda, Alarcon, and Coral. Greta is a yellow powder. They are used to treat an upset stomach. Pay-loo-ah also contains lead. It is a red powder used to treat a rash or a fever. Other folk medicines that contain lead include Bala (or Bala Goli), Golf, Ghasard, and Kandu. Some cosmetics such as Kohl (Alkohl) and Surma also contain lead..."

New York State- Department of Health

Keith R · #5 07-09-2007, 11:39 AM

yeah, I remember that health warning in the States from several years back. But it still does not answer my paint question.

You also forgot to mention on that list of yours that many other sites in the DR (other than Haina) contaminated by artesanal "recycling" (mining or extraction is better word for it, since it is not true recycling) of lead-acid batteries.

Rafael Rothschild · #6 07-11-2007, 02:28 AM

What a waste of time!!!

most of us "educated people from developed countries" are no more than repetitious monkeys; yeah, that's right!!!

Because we know how to read, right away, we accept anything The New York Times and GreenPeace want to throw at us.

Of course, because we hardly remember some of the chemical components we learned in high school, than makes us more qualified and self sufficient to talk about certain "important subjects"

Such as Global Warming, Lead Poisoning, etc, etc.

Why don't we all get a real life, and start to understand the real meaning, behind all the bull ****, and scare tactics that are being thrown are us by the real "smart parties" in the civilized world; such as the chemical corporations, their lobbies and all the really corrupt politicians of this "wonderful" leader of the world country?; oh, by the way, a country that not only tolerates advertising of Viagra, but allows that advertising to affect young males, who certainly don't need it, but are being taken advantage of, because all of the
"concealed" deceiving warning: "if an erection last more than 4 hours...contact your physician"
How is that for temptation??? specially in an age that you "need to impress"
somebody.

Or... how about the endless list of commercials selling unneeded medication to hypochondriac senior citizens; who, by the way, can't hardly afford to buy a decent meal, but spend their few dollars in products that won't do a thing for them?

Why do we agree with the concept of global warming, when we don't even make an attempt to read and learn the cycle of the ice ages?

Has anybody stop and think why the Sahara desert wasn't what it's today 50,000 years ago?

Does the creation of the hymalayan mountains bring anything to mind?
Does anybody believe in tectonic plates theory anymore?
Or perhaps, we are really so stupid, that we believe in "freezing the image"

Oh, well, this is America, the land of opportunities.

But, what the hell! we are far more educated, well prepared and informed to critize people, cultures, or countries, who dare do what we just did yesterday.

What does all this has to do with the Dominican Republic?
EVERYTHING, because few of us were born there, however (right or wrong)we want to apply and impose our own experiences, cultures and habits, for the better (never for worse)

Hey, we are just the same ignorant monkeys (as any other human species)
with the only difference being, that our university degrees, makes us think we are better.

That's what real mental masturbation can do to us.

cobraboy · #7 07-11-2007, 09:27 AM

Somebody ran out of meds...

Keith R · #8 07-11-2007, 10:03 AM

RR, if you consider people voicing concerns about environmental and health issues a "waste of time," just don't visit the Environment Forum. I'm sure we won't miss your "real mental masturbation."

Keith R
Environment Forum Moderator

SamanaJon · #9 07-13-2007, 10:49 AM

Thanks Keith, for the kind words to RR. I could not have said it any better. RR has probably never been to Haina.

The Island of Hispanola was a creation of the Almighty, and he would not be to HAPPY with what we humans have done to his Garden of Eden. Yes, it all boils down to the same lowest common denominator. The basic lack of human values and lack of basic education. Even most animals "dont sh** where they eat". This is common practice on this Island by many of its inhabitants. A small example of this, is the strip of "what was virgin coastland" just west of Carenero (Samana) directly in front of "El Cayito and Cayo Levantado" called "El Dike". This wetlands has been filled in as a dump, killing all species of palms/vegetation and wildlife that inhabilted the area. Someday I will take a foto and post it, even though it may get me in big trouble, as the land is owned by The Sub-secretation de Tourismo del Noreste. Most of the fill/garbage/paint cans and plastic) is from the Vistamare Project (Los Naranjos). Yes, that is the Condo project that (Felucho) Felix Jimenez is a partner and got a Presidential Decree from LF to build within the 60 meters of the high tide mark. Doesn't matter who it is.. most CRAP WHERE THEY EAT !!

Keith R · #10 07-13-2007, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamanaJon

A small example of this, is the strip of "what was virgin coastland" just west of Carenero (Samana) directly in front of "El Cayito and Cayo Levantado" called "El Dike". This wetlands has been filled in as a dump, killing all species of palms/vegetation and wildlife that inhabilted the area. Someday I will take a foto and post it, even though it may get me in big trouble, as the land is owned by The Sub-secretation de Tourismo del Noreste. Most of the fill/garbage/paint cans and plastic) is from the Vistamare Project (Los Naranjos). Yes, that is the Condo project that (Felucho) Felix Jimenez is a partner and got a Presidential Decree from LF to build within the 60 meters of the high tide mark. Doesn't matter who it is.. most CRAP WHERE THEY EAT !!

SJ, a suggestion: instead of posting it here, send the photo to The Green Team. greenteam@dr1.com We're not scared of Felucho and will happily post the pic. I doubt he would shut us down and even if he tried, I'd put the entire post and pics on my own blog, which is self-hosted so I know he can't shut me down.

Keith R
Green Team leader