We talked
briefly about some environmental issues in class, but it was interesting to see
those topics explored deeper in Ava’s presentation. I was particularly
interested in her discussion of the toxicity of the water in the Painted Rock Reservoir,
so I did a little more research.
In 2005,
the Phoenix Sun Times described the
reservoir as “one of the most toxic sinkholes of pesticide
contamination in the country.” The main culprit, as Ava discussed, is the pesticide DDT.
I was shocked to see the DDT, a likely carcinogen, has been found in Arizona
milk. This happened because cows ate hay that was contaminated by the runoff water
in the soil. In addition to this, the state advises against eating fish and
other wildlife from the Gila River, because of the contamination. It is very
concerning that in 2005, 36 years after DDT was banned in Arizona, it is still
having such significant environmental impacts.
This points to the serious long term
problems with pesticides and other forms of pollution. In our class readings,
we learned about mines that have long since closed, but are still having
negative impacts on their surrounding environments because of the toxic wastes
associated with extractive mining. It doesn’t help that these wastes were often
incorrectly disposed of, especially before federal environmental regulations
became more stringent.
Beyond the scope of environmental damage,
the pollution in the Painted Rock Reservoir has also had negative economic
impacts for the Gila River community. One 2012 article in the High-Country News reports that the town
was full of boarded up buildings, and looked generally sad. This example of
environmental problems ruining a local economy, I am sure, is one of many. It
is important to consider the effect that this, and other, instances of
pollution have had on the economic outcomes of the Tohono O’odham. It seems
logical to think that problems such have this one have only compounded the economic
hardships faced by a tribe with an unemployment rate of almost 40 percent.
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