Progress Report #3

Elise Svennevik:

I'm coming along really well with the research. I've read a lot about the Arctic indigenous communities themselves and a little on how the oil industry has affected them. I've also read a lot about the indigenous groups in Ecuador. I'm compiling and organizing everything in ways so that certain aspects of the cultures can fall under the same broader categories so I can compare them more easily. I am a good 2/3 of the way done with my research and I'm learning some really interesting things.

Caroline’s findings:

I’ve been looking up the political issues involving the Yew Trees. The trees have been hunted to near extinction, because they have taxol, which is a main ingredient in chemotherapy. These trees are found in Afghanistan, India, Nepal, and in North America. Currently their status on the Endangered Species List has changed from “vulnerable” to “endangered.” Is it right for humans to continue harvesting them, if they are saving lives, even though they are endangered?

Caroline is also currently researching the Ecuador and Chevron incident, particularly crude oil, reinjection methods, and related cancer victims.

Jacqueline Birkel researched the location of yew trees, noting their growth around religious places like churches and Native American battlegrounds. Her research indicates ethical and moral dilemmas surrounding the exploitation of religious and indigenous properties.

Ashli Hendricks:

I’m continuing to research the environmental effects caused by destruction of indigenous areas. In particular, I’ve looked into the water and soil contamination from Chevron’s waste pits in Ecuador (and additional noxious gases and related animal deaths), gathering quotes and personal stories for a more humanizing approach. For my research on yew trees, I’ve focused on more scientific information regarding their medicinal use and possible solutions in ensuring the tree population’s sustainability. As far as the oil drilling in the Arctic Refuge, I’ve focused more on how it is adversely affecting the habitat of natural wildlife in the area, pushing several species’ breeding grounds further and further into the foothills, where they are more vulnerable to predators.

Dana:

Dana is doing Youtube research to give the class a better contextual grasp of the cases studied.

For our exploration of the Ecuador waste pits, she cites this example:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZuM7-3UpQQ. This video gives Chevron a chance to support its side of the story.

Relative to our Congo research, she found an informative video that gives a behind-the-scenes look at the mining process, revealing information that is both factual and recent:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP7y8bMwH2s

Ryan:

CHEVRON

MAIN IDEA: The contamination of water essential for the daily activities of thousands of people has resulted in an epidemic of cancer, miscarriages, birth defects, and other ailments.

http://chevrontoxico.com/about/health-impacts/

YEW TREES

MAIN IDEA: Pharmaceutical companies make paclitaxel (Taxol), a prescription drug for the treatment of breast and ovarian cancer, from the bark of the yew tree. They extract paclitaxel, leaving the poisonous chemicals in yew behind.

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-802-YEW.aspx?activeIngredientId=802&activeIngredientName=YEW

INDEGINOUS PEOPLE OF ARCTIC

MAIN IDEA: Through atmospheric and oceanic pathways, contaminants from sources far outside the Arctic region accumulate in Arctic food webs, threatening the food security and health of people in the Arctic.

http://www.arctichealth.org/envirpoll.php