There are total two discussion board: each one should have one original post and two response post.
Discussion board 1: Different Perspectives
Many of you have experiences with multiple cultures. You may have lived in different countries, been a member of different communities, etc. This diversity is a great strength in thinking about the topics of this course. Please write at least 100 words describing a way that a culture you have experience with thinks about some topic of this course that is different from how it is discussed in a reading for this class or in other course content.
When responding to your classmates’ posts, please write at least 1-2 sentences that engage with the cultural differences they identify (for example, connecting it to a culture with which you are familiar).
For both posters and responders: please be sensitive to cultural differences throughout.
Example: (no plagiarism！！！
My classmate A’ s original post:
In this course, we have read articles about electronic waste and its detrimental effects on the environment. Here in the U.S., workers have the proper tools and processes to safely recycle these parts. In Vietnam however, informally recycling electronic waste is a source of income for many. But this is done so without regulations and thus making it highly dangerous for the health of many Vietnamese citizens. It is a common understanding that electronic waste must be reduced in hopes of sustaining our environment, but Vietnam is in search of executing this objective in a safe and regulated way. I found some articles covering this discussion and how sustainability needs to take into account the social welfare of citizens.
com/saigon-environment/17720-e-waste-how-the-ghosts-of-iphones-past-haunt-vietnam-s-low-income-communities” target=”_blank” class=”external” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>https://saigoneer.com/saigon-environment/17720-e-waste-how-the-ghosts-of-iphones-past-haunt-vietnam-s-low-income-communities (Links to an external site.)
Classmate B response post to A:
Hi A,
I agree with your point that the handling of electronic waste in Vietnam is extremely dangerous to the workers and also to the environment. In India as well, workers are forced to perform mass-cremation, often without proper equipment, due to the influx of COVID cases and deaths in the country. The smoke from the cremation is plaguing the atmosphere in India right now, and because the air is already extremely polluted, further pollution is also a major concern for citizens. I think it’s devastating to see a lot of developing countries in the Asian continent enduring unfavorable working conditions just to make a decent wage, or in India’s case, grapple with their country’s death rate due to COVID-19.
Classmate C response post to A:
Hi A,
I like how you brought up the other side of e-waste. The continuous consumption of newer technology leads to enormous piles of e-waste where, unknowingly to the previous owners, it is scavenged for its precious materials. These poor citizens of developing nations like Vietnam are the ones suffering from our e-waste. As long as there is a constant supply of e-waste, there will be workers endangering their lives for scraps of money. I think it is partly our responsibility to decrease our consumption of electronics for the general well-being of others.
Discussion board 2: Comparison of Readings
Write at least 100 words that discusses how two readings that you have read so far relate to or conflict with each other. In the first sentence or two, be sure to have identified the two readings by name.
When responding to your classmates’ posts, please write at least 1-2 sentences that raise points that the original poster may not have considered, or deepen the analysis in some other way.
Classmate 1′ original post:
The two readings that relate to each other are under Week 1 is called “Racism is Killing the Planet” and “The 17 Goals Sustainable Development.” The first article goes in detail about how minorities live in the dangerous places due to them not being able to afford the none polluted places. The higher class people are dumping all the pollution towards minorities. In the second article, it address how the Union has created 17 goals to make the environment safe for everyone. They are both related because they address the issue people are facing world wide. The overall point for both is that we most come up with a solution for everyone to create equality. They both also discuss how people can get clean and affordable energy if the government just allowed it.
Classmate 2 reply to 1:
Hi 1,
There’s definitely a social aspect of development and sustainability. In terms of concrete plans about how to balance sustainability and development, it’s a bit more complicated, but new ideas are being brought forth every day. However, these technologies may come short because a lot of the goals and aspirations of developing nations stem from a history of exploitation. When we compound new demands of sustainability onto an already exhausted, exploited people, a shiny new technology may help but it definitely is only part of the solution.
Classmate 3 reply to 1:
Hi 1,
I agree how we need to come up with a solution for everyone to create equality. Such as, in the article, “The roads ahead: Narratives for shared socioeconomic pathways describing world futures in the 21st century”, gives a narrative as to how we would see the future if we focused more on a sustainable and greener plan. This would help “…both industrialized and developing countries and adequate human and financial resources.” It would help decrease the inequalities that minorities face around the world, especially around pollution and dumping waste in these communities.
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