Check out this article: Reusable bags labeled as a possible health risk.
When I read the headline I was thinking that we have another great example of good intentions leading to bad unintended consquences... but then I read the article and saw who paid for the study. Hmmmm...
How is this related to topics in this course?
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I think that this article is hysterical. In the second paragraph the reader is informed that the Canadian Plastics Industry commissioned the study. I personally find this article funny because inevitably, a plastic committee wants to increase the sales of plastic materials ie: plastic grocery store bags! This applies to this economics class because in order to increase the demand of plastic bags they have to discourage the use of substitutes like the reusable bag. I loved the last few paragraphs about how the bags may be contaminated from gym and diaper bag use- duh!
This article really was funny. I am actually surprised a well known website such as earth911.com would post this. I am sure that the plastic industry has been negatively effected as the "green" trend continues. People are more apt to choose products with less packaging and I have noticed more and more people bringing reusable bags to the grocery store. I personally refuse a bag when making the majority of my purchases. It reminds me of the tobacco and firearm industry studies, which are cited at court cases, which make equally ridiculous claims in attempts to gain a better reputation with the public and plaintiffs.
There are a million threats out there to the well being and safety of human beings and I will never be convinced that the bacteria found in reusable grocery bags is one of them. Rather, I do see the byproducts from their manufacture to the lasting presence they have in land fills, in the oceans and in nature as the true problem.
I'm living and working in Napoli, Italy over the next two months and can tell you first hand that plastics in the Mediterranean by Naples is an ugly problem with dire consequences for the ecosystems that must try to sustain life polluted by plastics and trash...I say "sustain" because I have my doubts that much of anything is "thriving" in these waters. The Italians have the perpensity to shop for small amounts of groceries at a time; therefore, the more often they shop the more plastic bags they use. I can only imagine that if half the people in Naples (population 5.5 million) used reusable shopping bags, the sea waste, land waste and health hazards would drop considerably. The cost of purchasing reusable bags would be eclipsed by the benefit received by mankind.
Also, not mentioned in the article...how about the germs and bacteria that fester inside the bags once they get littered and buried in landfills?
OK, so you get the idea: If someone has an obvious agenda, you can't really trust what they're saying when it relates to that agenda. This is why objective analysis is key, and why I emphasized it so much at the start of the course.
So here's a question for you to see if you're really following ...
If "StopTitan.org" produces a study that says Titan Cement in NH County is a bad idea, will you believe it?
I would have a difficult time believing the article without performing an objective analysis of its content...especially given the special interests and obvious agenda of StopTitan.org. StopTitan's interest in inhibiting/prohibiting Titan's plant construction is a red flag that the article may be skewed, or one sided.
Without objective analysis of an issue, a worthwhile opinion rooted in fact and truth is not possible.
Soooooo....I may or may not believe it. As an advocate of marine life and the overall health of Wilm, the article would catch my attention, but I would be sure to examine the facts before being a believer in the articles subject.
I think that this article does bring up a point that the re-usable bags do get dirt and needs to be clean. I feel like this is a scare tactic for consumers to just stick with the paper or plastic bags. This affects the public opinion on bringing there own bags. For the natural resources that are involved to make the plastic bags and paper bags it can be reduced by bring your own bags.
Here's an article about a bill in Cali that will charge consumers 25 cents per plastic bag used at time of checkout. Revenue gained from this tax will be used to offset environmental cleanup costs the state incurs each year from these "single use bags." They say this has been implemented in Ireland with success...i.e. plastic bag use is down and reusable bag use is up.
I was in a store yesterday here in Italy and they charge 9 euro cents for a plastic bag...apprx 12 cents. Maybe the Italians have a similar policy in action?
Article link:
http://blogs.reuters.com/environment/2009/04/15/paper-or-plastic-oh-and-25-cents-please/
The article was very interesting, but would the average person notice the source of the study? As educated individuals, also with a hint, we realized what was being said. Unfortunately generating negative thoughts about your competition happens a lot in many industries. But any type of article, blog, or form of information needs to be evaluated for credibility. Positive/Objective analysis deals strictly with facts so looking at the reusable bag study and a possible "StopTitan.org" study would involve a strong bias from the sources. So personally I would not believe a study from "StopTitan.org." Looking at neutral parties generally provides good information, but then again you have to look into the facts they come up with.
Dr. Schuhmann makes a good point about the StopTitan.org site. I have used this site for research, but have only used the positive analysis articles. There is a “research” link that has facts and figures about the chemicals that Titan will release, the amounts that are allowed in the environment, and the chemical’s effect on humans. The Titan Cement’s webpage presents facts and figures in a way that supports their construction. I think the important thing to remember when looking at sources with agendas and biases is to read between the lines. Titan boasts about the numerous jobs that their company will create (between 1,730 to 2,133). However, Titan includes the number of temporary jobs to aid in constructing the plant in this total. StopTitan focuses only the 116 regular jobs that Titan will create.
http://www.carolinascementproject.com/economic_benefits/
So, has anyone done a CBA on the proposed Titan plant? Some obviously believe the environmental costs to the Cape Fear, local water sheds, land area and people will be outweighed by the benefits received by Wilmington? Is Titan really that bad? Has a panel of economic experts been commissioned to weigh these costs and benefits, or is Wilm and the state charging ahead without doing their homework?
NY Times does not paint a pretty picture of cement production...
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/26/business/worldbusiness/26cement.html
Are they serious. I grew up, as probably all of you did, following the five second rule and "dirt don't hurt" philosophies. I can understand advocating to wash and maintain reusable bags, but the fact that a plastic bag company is presenting the information should raise a red flag. The study should have been conducted by an independent, non biasised group. The biggest issue i worry about is that alot of people believe everthing they read with no questions asked...dangerious? Yea.
Definitely shady research findings to be sponsored by the Canadian Plastic Industry! I would question findings against cement plants from StopTitan as well. In any research findings, the most viable research and reporting will be from a 3rd party.
Funny.... I wonder was bias in anyway. The plastic company funded the study. Wow. I feel bad for the company that funded this study bad move on there part. People are into being "Green" right now so i am sure this had a negative impact on the company.I am just wondering who would think taht is a good move?
This article is somewhat ridiculous. Only an organization striving to benefit from future plastic production would go to the trouble to experiment on the amount of bacteria in an enviornment friendly bag. Though I have to say I bought one of those reusuable bags at the fresh market about six months ago and still have not washed it. Kinda gross..
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