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作者：傑奇•艾倫•朱利安諾 博士
我們尋求，一個全新、活潑的地球
我們承認，能做的、不一定該做
我們主張，世人都要決心維護無條件的自由，來證明這一代愛下一代
如果要有成效，這個時候，請付出一點愛，對這一代、對每個人
-- 南西•紐霍
幾天前的悲劇，給了我們許多要思考的地方。當我們在哀悼、衷心的慰問那些在這個星期遭遇到恐怖攻擊的人們時，對於未來，我們也是憂心忡忡。目前的一些跡象顯示，世貿大樓倒塌時所釋放出來的大量有毒物質，已經對紐約市民的健康造成危險，尤是那些救難人員。
安全與穩定的信念又再一次被擊潰。更且，這個社會以消費行為為基礎而所表現不顧一切的行徑，再加上無止盡的有毒物質侵入我們的世界和身體，一向關心如此社會環境的你們，一定很清楚那樣的感覺。
2001年，9月11日，星期二（美東時間）（攝影 比爾•海利威爾）
即使美國環境保護署低估此一健康的威脅，但在倒塌大樓周圍區域裡充斥著有毒物質，這是不容否認的。辛辛那提大學醫學中心「環境健康及肺部與急救加護醫學」的教授喬治•列考夫博士指出，大樓廢墟四周所散佈之大大小小的懸浮物，對肺部是有害的。
水泥粉末、塵土及其他會阻塞鼻子及喉嚨的微粒物質會造成呼吸問題，眼睛也會因角膜遭微粒刮傷而損壞。
火焰燃燒及爆炸所產生的氣體及煙也是劇毒的，它包含有戴奧辛、多氯聯苯、易爆的有機物、飛機燃料及其他許多來自於大樓建材和辦公室的有毒物質，當人們吸進這些刺激物，就可能會引起呼吸痙攣、氣喘，而未來還不知道會出現什麼問題。
飛機撞擊世貿大樓爆炸後華氏2,000度的高溫燃燒，也會產生許多有毒化合物，它們的影響仍然不可知。
吸入石綿會引起石棉肺病，那是一種肺結痂、肺癌；也會引起食道癌，胃癌及結腸癌。即使吸入的石綿纖維，只有顯微鏡才看得到，它一樣會刺激肺壁，肺會製造一層如薄紙般的傷疤來包圍這個受刺激的地方。若是這層薄紙般的傷疤最後包圍了整個肺臟，受害者就無法正常呼吸。
環境保護署發言人邦妮•貝羅茲告訴美國廣播公司，該署官員在廢墟周邊進行空氣及灰塵偵測時，「的確沒有偵測到真正的危險」，而只有「非常低量」的石棉；接著她說，「主要的危險在於長時間暴露在石綿環境中，如此達數年之久才會造成各種疾病。」
但是有其他的研究顯示，只要肺部有一絲石綿纖殘留，將來就會造成致命的問題。又一次地，我們從負責保護我們健康的公家單位，得到內容互相衝突的資訊。
多年來，恐怖攻擊一直造成我們環境及健康的大災難。
1990到1991年間的波灣戰爭中，伊拉克軍隊蓄意地燃燒油井，這已徹底蹂躪科威特的環境。入侵的軍隊爆破並引燃超過700座的油井，釋放出致命的濃煙到大氣中，科威特境內土地遭到大規模的污染，嚴重危害了地貌、土壤及動植物，從爆炸油井噴出的大量原油則流向地表和水道。
科威特燃燒油田的衛星照片，1991年2月23日(照片提供 美國地質調查局)
恐怖行動永遠不會只影響到人類，經歷一段時間後，動物以及生態系統不可避免地也將受到危害。
當我們將支持和安慰給予罹難者及其家屬，並為這個多難的世界祈求和平時，我們的關心也會流向這些悲劇背後所代表的意義及其餘波，不可預期的結果將持續浮現。
例如，超乎尋常的關閉國內航線，這是自從有空中航線以來，第一次，天空裡沒有每日由數千次航班所放出的噪音、和數百萬磅的污染。
這樣的特殊機會，使得大氣層及我們的身體自從400年前工業革命以來，首度體驗到較乾淨的空氣。這樣的效應，戲劇性地使得地球的生態系統，從每天來自於飛航器的毒害中，得到暫時的釋放。
這樣的效果並不是來正當化或減輕這恐怖的悲劇，但它可以讓我們在哀傷中反省。我們注意到，即使一些生活步調因為停飛被打斷，我們依然存活著；同時我們更與家庭成員更接近，付出更多的愛在家人、朋友和同事身上，並思考著我們的未來以及我們為何而活。
我們可以選擇每一天都如此度過。
當飛機再度起飛時，毫無疑問地，你可能留下所愛的人無所依靠。然而，你也可以選擇取消行程留在家裡，與家人、朋友相聚，讓愛與憐惜圍繞在你們的四周。
美國，馬里蘭州，Lower Patuxent河（照片國家海洋及大氣總署）
我們的孩子，大人也一樣，從來沒有比此刻更需要那惟有大自然能夠提供的慰藉；尤其當安全、穩定及和平的信念被挑戰時，與自然的接觸顯得更重要。
當圍繞在我們周圍的，只剩下水泥及科技時，再多的忠告都不夠。惟有赤足走在孕育我們的土壤上，去真實地感受，我們才能發現一塊安全的地方，從悲傷中重新獲得力量，繼續走向未來，也才能了解到我們是生命循環的一部份，無論何時何地，我們都可以在生命中發現力量。
值此恐怖時期，那些恐怖行動的犯罪者，必定會罪有應得。但是美國的反應，則必須適可而止，以避免無辜的妻子、先生、母親、父親及孩童，因報復行動而喪生。
義憤填膺是必然的，但是沒有必要被此一情緒牽著鼻子走。藉由雙腳去感覺大地，可以幫助提醒我們站在全球的角度去看，作為生命體的一部份，我們必能發現共處的方法。
參考資料
1. ENS有環保署處理倒塌大樓空氣品質的相關報導
http://ens-news.com/ens/
sep2001/2001L-09-13-04.html
2.科威特油井火災的影響
http://www.cas.usf.edu/envir_sci_policy/
esprogram/espcourse/Omar2.htm
3.重新定位你的未來 http://www.islandpress.com/ecocom
pass/dream.html
4.找出你選區裡的國會議員寫e-mail告訴他們，你不贊成報復，但是謹慎的處罰是需要的
http://www.visi.com/juan/
congress/ziptoit.html
傑奇•艾倫•朱利安諾博士是西雅圖的作家與教師。他慶幸自己因為兒子才四個月大，還不需要聽他如何解釋這些事情。請將你的想法評論或願景寄給他
jackie@healingourworld.com ，也可以參觀他的網站
http://www.healingourworld.com
編按：雖然這篇文章是寫於去年911事件剛發生後幾天，然而，文中的思考與反省，仍時時提醒我們記得生命的本質。至今，「反恐怖行動」，以一場全球森林大火的浩大形勢，持續蔓延開來，戰火中生命及環境持續遭到彈藥的侵犯與毀傷，讀者將如何繼續思考？我們真正能做、該做的是什麼？
全文與圖片詳見: http://ens-news.com/ens/sep2001/
2001L-09-16g.html
版權歸屬Environment News Service(ENS)，環境資訊協會(鄧國光 譯，蘇崧棱、蔡麗伶 審校)
中英對照全文：http://e-info.org.tw/issue/environ/2002/
en02020501.htm |
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By Jackie Alan Giuliano, Ph.D.
We seek a renewed stirring of life for the earth
We plead that what we are capable of doing is
not always what we ought to do.We urge that all people now determine
that a wide untrammelled freedom shall remain
to testify that this generation has love for the next.
If we want to succeed in that, we might show, meanwhile,
a little more love for this one, and for each other.
-- Nancy Newhall
The tragedies of the last few days have given us all
much to think about. As we mourn and send our heartfelt condolences to
those who have suffered from the terrible violence of this week, we are
all wondering about the future. Now, evidence has surfaced that the
health of those in New York - and especially the rescue workers - is in
jeopardy from the vast amounts of toxic materials released when the
World Trade Center towers collapsed.
The ideas of safety and security have once again been
shattered. Yet for those of you who have been concerned about the
reckless direction of our consumer based society and the endless toxic
onslaughts to our world and to our bodies, you know that feeling well.
Tuesday, September 11, 2001 (Photo c Bill Halliwell)
While the Environmental Protection Agency is downplaying
any health threat, it is undeniable that the area around the collapsed
towers is filled with toxic materials. Dr. George Leikauf, professor of
environmental health and pulmonary and critical care medicine at the
University of Cincinnati Medical Center, said that the large and small
floating particles around the rubble of the towers could be very
dangerous to the lungs.
Breathing problems can result from particles of cement,
earth and other matter by clogging the nose and throat. The eyes can
also be damaged by particles scratching the cornea.
Gases and smoke from the fire and explosions are also
highly toxic, containing dioxins, PCBs, volatile organic compounds, jet
fuel, and many other toxic compounds from the building materials and
offices. These irritants can trigger breathing spasms, asthma attacks,
and untold future problems for those who inhale them.
The 2,000 degree fire that resulted when the jets that
hit the World Trade Center towers exploded may also have created many
combinations of toxic materials of unknown effect.
Inhaling asbestos can cause asbestosis, a scarring of
the lungs, lung cancer; and cancer of the esophagus, stomach, and colon.
When a person inhales asbestos, even one microscopic fiber, it irritates
the lining of the lungs. To compensate, the lungs form scar tissue
around the irritated areas. If the scar tissue eventually surrounds the
entire lung, the victim won't be able to breathe properly.
EPA spokesperson Bonnie Bellows told ABC news that EPA
officials "really don't detect any real danger" in air and
dust tests and that there were "very low" levels of asbestos.
Then she said, "The main risk is exposure to asbestos over long
periods of time. It takes years of exposure in an occupation, and its
takes many years before the onset of any kind of disease."
But other studies show it only takes one asbestos fiber
in a lung to create a deadly health problem in the future. Once again,
we get conflicting information from the agency charged to protect our
health.
Terrorist attacks have been wreaking havoc on the
environment - and ultimately on our health - for many years.
During the Gulf War in 1990 to 1991, the environment of
Kuwait was devastated when oil wells were intentionally set on fire by
Iraqi forces. The landscape, soil, plants and animals were severely
damaged when the invading forces exploded and ignited more than 700 oil
wells, releasing deadly fumes into the atmosphere and polluting much of
the country. The exploded wells sent vast amounts of oil onto the land
surfaces and into waterways.
Landsat image of the Kuwait oil fields afire February
23, 1991 (Photo courtesy U.S. Geological Survey)
Terrorist acts will never affect only humans. The
animals and ecosystems will also inevitably suffer damage as well.
While we send our thoughts of support and comfort to the
victims and their families and pray for peace in this troubled world,
our thoughts will naturally drift towards the meaning of these tragedies
and their aftermath. Unexpected consequences will continue to surface.
For example, a bizarre repercussion of shutting down the
nation's air travel system has arisen: for the first time since the
start of air travel, our skies were clear of noise and the millions of
pounds of pollution spewed out every day by thousands of plane trips.
Our atmosphere and bodies are experiencing cleaner air
that is unprecedented since the start of the Industrial Revolution
nearly 400 years ago. The ripple effect is dramatic as the ecosystems of
the Earth got a break from the daily toxic onslaught that comes from air
travel alone.
While this effect does not justify or lessen the
terrible tragedies, it can serve as a positive point to ponder in our
grief. We can also notice that even though some of our lives have been
disrupted by the absence of tens of thousands of planes filling our
skies, we have survived. We have stayed closer to home, sent more love
in the direction of our families, friends, and fellow community members,
and thought about our futures and our reasons for being.
We could choose to do that every day.
As the planes again take flight, by all means, get your
loved ones who might be stranded back to you. But then, maybe you might
want to consider canceling that trip you had planned and just staying
home with your family and friends, surrounding them, and yourself, with
love and compassion.
Lower Patuxent River, Maryland (Photo courtesy National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
Now more than ever, our children - and the rest of us as
well - need the solace that only nature can provide. A connection with
the natural world is critical, especially at times such as these, when
all ideas of safety, security, and peace are challenged.
No amount of counseling will be sufficient if one
surrounds oneself with only concrete and technology. Only through
feeling one's bare feet firmly on Mother Earth will we find a safe space
to grieve and renewed strength to go on into the future, realizing that
we are part of a great cycle of life. That power is there for us all at
any time, day or night.
These are terrible times and the perpetrators of these
horrible acts must be held accountable, but our nation's response needs
to be tempered by reason so that other innocent wives, husbands,
mothers, fathers, and children are not killed by vengeance driven
actions.
Rage and indignation must be acknowledged, but they
don't have to be acted upon. Feeling the earth beneath our feet can help
remind us, at a planetary level, that we must find ways to exist
together, as part of the web of life.
RESOURCES
1.The Environment News Service covered the story about
the EPA's reaction to the air quality around the fallen buildings at http://ens-news.com/
ens/sep2001/2001L-09-13-04.html
2. Read a detailed description of the effect of the
Kuwait oil fires at http://www.cas.usf.edu/envir_sci_policy/
esprogram/espcourse/Omar2.htm
3.Check out resources to help you redefine your future
at http://www.islandpress.com/ecocom
pass/dream.html
4. Find out who your Congressional representatives are
and e-mail them. Tell them you don't want rage and vengeance, but
carefully thought out justice. If you know your Zip code, you can find
them at http://www.visi.com/
juan/congress/ziptoit.html.
{Jackie Alan Giuliano, Ph.D. is a writer and teacher in
Seattle. He can be found feeling grateful his son is only four months
old and doesn't have to have these events explained - yet. Please send
your thoughts, comments, and visions to him at jackie@healingourworld.com
and visit his web site at http://www.healingourworld.com/}
http://ens-news.com/ens/sep2001/2001L-09-16g.html
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