OTM #2 "Seeing Is Believing"

In the broadcast "Seeing Is Believing" several different topics were discussed and analyzed. These topics included: Trump's travel ban, political issues/controversy within the context of environmental awareness and policy, and the alleged "myth" of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

First, I'd just like to say that after listening to this broadcast I felt extremely naïve for not even knowing what Trump's travel ban was before hearing the story. After listening, I felt slightly comforted knowing that if I were to hear this topic being discussed now, I would actually understand the issue and be able to contribute to the conversation without making a total fool out of myself. However, this snippet of the broadcast about Trump's ban was far less compelling to me than the subject of politics in regards to environmental issues.

Next, I trust the veracity of this story in particular simply because it comes straight from a primary source. William Ruckelshaus, founding administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, gave a first-hand account of the events that occurred. When it comes to most news reports and articles, the final report is a watered down version of the truth. It is a result of one giant game of telephone. This specific story is legit because it's coming from someone who was actually there. One of the most interesting parts of his account was his recollection of the worries of chemical manufacturers the second time he was appointed to run the EPA. He explained that the executives at chemical companies actually REQUESTED that the EPA get back on track with regulations. These chemical manufacturers were afraid that the public would turn on them and get their licenses taken away if it was believed that they were not being regulated properly. I think this is a perfect example of how psychological, social, and cultural contexts come into play. The culture at this time was completely different from how it is now. Concern for the environment was at an all time high and played a huge role in day-to-day interaction. The social norms were largely based on discussion of the government, environmental and civil rights, and how they all intertwined. The differing mindsets and psychological perspectives of the EPA vs. the public vs. the companies are completely obvious in their intentions to do what was best by them at the time.

The most fascinating of all these topics was the "myth" of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. When I think of the GPGP, I picture a giant portion of the ocean filled with floating debris that creates one giant solid mass of junk. I was so shocked to find out that according to Dan Engber, this conception of the GPGP is totally off-base. The GPGP is actually made up of microscopic bits of plastic creating a kind of plastic soup. The GPGP wasn't described this way when it was trending for a reason. It would be much easier for the public to overlook or not care about something that is not necessarily even visible. But when its presented as a giant landfill in the middle of the ocean, that's something that catches people's attention. This is another testament to the importance of context. Activists purposely frame the issue in a way that will get in the head's of citizens enough to care. It's not quite right to call the GPGP a "myth" when it DOES exist, it just doesn't come in the form that's been sold to us for all these years.