Geographic Agents of Change
Introduction
Geographic agents of change are more compelling to all
aspects of life. These changes are usually a result of technological
advancement while others are from different areas such as political, social and
economic. People have precisions that leads them to take technological forward
steps in the quest of fulfilling their undying desires. Notably, the natural
environment should not be destroyed while using natural resources in the name
of perfection. Human life can also be endangered alongside using natural
resource products such as cellphones. Surprisingly, some of the processes in
handling a product don’t conform with rational measures to true stewardship of
the environment. A more sustainable environment shall only be achieved if
people handle it prudently, including a right decision when spending money to
consume environmental products.
Geographic Agents of Change
Technological and development advancement has far
negative impacts on the environment. The environment is more affected than any
other aspect. In the chase of achieving political and social comfort and
advancement, most of the change agents neglect the wellbeing of the
environment. Some of the agents of change are technology, social media, and
urbanization.
Technology
Technology has been the mother of change agents in human
beings lives. It is a good thing. But however, it is better to consider the
impact it has as far as the environment is concerned. In ancient England, a
steam engine was invented. Later on, man’s precision drive propelled him to
discover fuel as a mean of advancement. Turbines were replaced with
fuel-facilitated materials. Up to date, vehicles are common, and of course,
most of them are run by fuels. After combustion, the emits are released into
the environment without minding about the hazardous effects imposed on it. What
people pretend to forget is that the by-products of vehicles are risky to the
environment, even after fulfilling one’s desire to have a nice vehicle.
Social Media
Social media is the current change agent. It has come by
the introduction of smartphones some years back. Most of the people are
probably equipped with smartphones, if not one, and of course, using them.
Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram are examples of the most visited
social media platforms in smartphones. A business transaction is done through
smartphones. For instance, one may order something, and then it is delivered.
Here, there is a probability of the item purchased to be shifted while in a
package is very high. Surprisingly, after comfortably consuming that particular
item, the packaging is thrown just anywhere. This situation has made the
increment of environmental pollution if the waste is not managed well. Social
media has also led to political and social incitements in social groups. This
can lead to physical mass action if the incitements trigger. Protests may
involve the use of tear gas, burning tires, breaking glasses, and spilling oil.
All these items are a risk to the environment. Racism incitements in the US
through social media and the consequential protests is an example of this
changes people aspire as precise, never minding about the welfare of the
environment.
Urbanization
People have changed their ways of living by relocating
from rural areas to cities. Henceforth, the development of cities is actively
taking place to accommodate the increasing population in big towns. Several
industries emit untreated gases to air and untreated waste to the adjacent
natural water points. Additionally, locomotives that use fuel as energy such as
vehicle are increasing in urban areas in the chase of having a comfortable life
in the cities. Chances of harming environment increase as the rate of
urbanization increase.
In my opinion, most of these change agents are not worthy
helpful for the conduciveness of human being’s survival. Despite the change
agents have made life better for solving some problems, there is a critical
concern towards the impact they create on the environment. It does not sound
well to destroy the mother-of-all (environment) in the name of the building and
developing other life pillars such as politics and economics. I strongly feel
that the change agents are not moving to create a sustainable future for man’s
survival as far as the environment is concerned.
Social and Environmental Impacts of Cell Phone’s Life
Cycle
Cell phones are the immediate products of the
technological development on the old wired gadget. Up to date, cell phones are
commonly used since a higher number of population can acquire and maintain a
cell phone. Smartphones have come in the market in the recent decade, hence
contributing to the dynamicity of cell phones. While cell phones are helpful to
human beings, it has negative impacts on the environment and human life too. These
effects are experienced at each level of its life cycle: material extraction,
manufacturing, packaging, transportation, useful life, and
reuse/recycling/disposal.
Material extraction
Cell phones have a negative impact on the environment and
people concerning their material extraction. Materials such as lead and nickel
used in making the circuit boards leave the land ugly. Many dug grounds may
kill the ecosystem in that habitat. Additionally, heavy mining machines used in
the extraction of these materials dislocate soil profile. People are also
displaced in the areas where such mining are done. People who are resided and
working in these mining and manufacturing sites may suffer from toxic risks.
Natural resources are endangered.
Manufacturing
Cell phone poses a great threat to the environment when
being manufactured. The circuit boards have to be painted and installed with
lead, beryllium, and nickels components. Cell phone batteries contain cadmium
and nickel components. The liquid crystalline material used in making cell
phone is hazardous to the environment. These components are a threat to the
environment since they have toxic elements.
Packaging
After acquiring a cell phone, the packaging materials
used can lead to serious dangers to the environment when they are not properly
disposed of. Environmental stewardship is vital in controlling the rate of
damages the cell phone packaging materials. Those materials should also be kept
well to avoid possible harm when they come into contact with human beings.
Transportation
Cell phones are shipped from manufacturer to consumer by
transport means. However, this process may require a posse negative impact on
people as well as the environment. For instance, the vehicles that are used to
cargo them gadgets emit poisonous gas to the environment, hence disturbing
people, animals, plants, and air. Accidents may lead to death and injuries when
the transporter is involved in an accident.
Useful life
The increased consumerism of cell phone products has both
positive and negative impacts on people and the environment. Many people may
get involved in accidents if they use cell phones while driving or crossing
roads while concentrating on their gadgets at hand. On the other side, the cell
phone has benefits to people. For instance, cell phones can be used to create
environmental awareness to the public. Globalization has helped in reaching
many people globally.
Reuse/recycling/disposal
Normally, cell phones are electronic gadgets that have
the shortest life span. While dealing with the last moments of cell phones, it
can be either beneficial or harmful to both people and the environment. Some
people throw their cell phones such as in rivers and pill-ups. Cell phone
tossing is harmful to aquatic life and soil. People should give their old cell
phones to needy people if the cell phones are still in good conditions, it’s
charitable. The cell phone user may sell to companies that dismantle and
reassemble important components if the cell phones. Nonetheless, the cell
phone’s life cycle should be geared towards achieving environmental
sustainability.
Magazine Article
Nobody could have imagined reaching at a level using
wireless gadgets to communicate. The next precision leads to use of cell phones
to perform business activities, especially after smartphones were availed in
the recent decade. However, people could not imagine of reaching at a level
where the cell phone could be the acute enemy to human being and environment
despite be useful at the same time. Cell phone is a product of natural
resources. The early cell phones were made from lead, beryllium, cadmium, and
nickel metals. Nowadays, smart phones are being produced using other resources
such as crystalline liquid comprised of mercury. Plastics are also being used
to produce smart phones. However, the extraction of these materials have
created grave impacts to environment, leaving open mining sites.
Environment is an important constituent of living things.
Henceforth, there should be a good relationship between natural and human
environments. Natural environment comprises of natural resources entities such
as soil, water, air, animals, and plants. On the other side, human environment
regards to the artificial surroundings that human being create. The two types
of environments are dependent to one another. Life cycle of a cell phone should
align itself to the conforms of environment. China is the world leading
cellphone owner, followed by India, and then the United States with
approximately 695.2, 441.7, and 271 million phones respectively. Some of the
world’s leading cellphone makers are LG Electronics, Nokia, Samsung, Motorola,
Ericsson, and Sony. Production of cellphones may be hazardous to the
manufacturers and the local environment where the company is located. For instance,
some toxic gases are harmful to human health and environment.
There is an increase in production of cell phone
globally, which as a result of increasing number of users. Approximately, half
of the world population are active cellphone users with a data of 3.5 billion.
Additionally, PCs availability has reduced with a margin of 3.5 times of
cellphone subscribers who hit at 4.1 billion. However, this figure can be as a
result of multiple subscriptions by a single cellphone user to various network
providers. US has an increasing rate of new subscribers, with 22.4 million
users compared to previous year. Teen are the most cell phone users with an
increment of 40% since 2004. Most of them claim that their social life will be
at a mess without cellphones. Notably, several people replace their cellphones
before its lifespan reach, between one and half years to two and half years.
Cellphones have far impact to the environment. Shipping
them propels environmental pollution. For example, vehicles that transport them
emit high level of toxic gasses. Additionally, some of the cellphones’ disposal
methods are risky to environment. Tossing old cellphone to natural water
resources and soil endangers the aquatic life and land respectively. These
misappropriate methods of disposing cellphones can be rectified. One can donate
cellphone to somebody who need it by yourself or through charity organizations,
or recycle it with a certified company. These e-waste management processes will
make the use of cell phones mores sustainable.
Additionally, cellphones have double-sided impact on the
social life. Smartphones are used in to access social media platforms that can
be used to spread the gospel of environmental awareness. It is useful in
sharing with people from all corners of the world through a digitalized
globalization. However, cellphones have negatively affected people. Accidents
have increased as a results of using cellphones while driving.
Conclusion
Technology has far impacts on both human being and
environment. The fast-moving advancements have resulted to simultaneous agent
changes. These agent changes should help in building a more sustainable
environment for human living. At this moment of consumerism, true environmental
stewardship calls for a rational decision in spending money and resources in a
manner that will not harm environment. Nonetheless, natural environment is the
home of all other types of environment, hence its sustainability will highly
depend on how people will handle it.