Environmental+Issues

=Environmental Issues= The connections between environmental issues and poverty: can sustained economic growth occur without remedial environmental measures?
 * Aditya: We notice that wherever there is poverty, there is filth. I believe the main reason to be the fact that when a person doesn't know whether he or she is going to get the next meal or not, surrounding filth is hardly a factor. When one's very survival is at stake, s/he does not even think about how dirty, and unhygienic their environment might be. So here we see a direct correlation between poverty and the environment. Therefore, I came to the conclusion that if the Government, instead of targeting both poverty and the environment, targets only poverty, then they could possibly be killing two birds with one stone. Thus, when the lower strata of society breaks free from the chains of poverty, then naturally they will make a conscious effort to keep their surroundings clean. This way, not only will the Government save a major portion of their budget, but will also be able to focus on various other aspects demanding their attention, and treat them with the same amount of money saved.
 * Tim: In addition, enviromental deterioration and unhealthy living conditions can fuel the endless cycle of poverty. Say a person is born into poverty and they do not have access to a clean water source. The poluted water, in turn, causes this person to contract hepititis. This person then has to spend an already limited amount of money on medical care. If this person eventual dies, they leave behind a family that might no longer recieve the essential support they need, thus restarting this cycle of poverty. While this is one extreme example, protecting the enviroment is important in helping maitain a higher quality of life.