#maquilapolis

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Ben Johnson 4/30/14 Portfolio/Journal Submission 4 GEOG 277 McKeithen AC

                In today’s society, environmental awareness has gained steam as of late. Our actions as human beings have profound impacts on humans and non-humans alike. Corporations, with specific regard to their factories, have been the source of many pollutants present in water, air, and soil around the globe. In this journal entry, I will expand outside of Minnesota and discuss a US-Canadian agreement to help reduce acid rain that comes as a result of air pollutants. Also included in this discussion will be an analysis of the effects of factory pollution in the documentary “Maquilapolis.”                 In the article titled, “U.S.-Canada Cooperation: The U.S.-Canada Air Quality Agreement,” concerns over acid rain were increasing in the 1980’s in the border regions, forcing both the American and Canadian governments to work to try to reduce the sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions. In order to do this, the Air Quality Committee, comprised of an equal number of Americans and Canadians, were tasked with “implementing the commitments, measuring and reporting progress, and identifying evolving areas of concern in transboundary air pollution” (McLean 2008).  Specific factories discussed include power plans in Michigan and Saskatchewan, and additionally a steel mill in Ontario. The good news for the environment and the citizens affected by acid rain in those areas is that the U.S. and Canadian governments have the ability to act quickly and effectively. According to the article, “this relationship has built a capacity to deal with common problems” (McLean 2008). However, this capacity to solve environmental problems is not present everywhere in the world.                 Imagine living in a community down the hill from an abandoned lead processing  factory, a place where you are sick from factory pollutants, your neighbors are sick from factory pollutants, and there is no hope to leave. Unfortunately, this was the reality of the people living in a small community in Tijuana, Mexico. Although the point of view of the factories is not included in the documentary, it provides insight into the destitute lives of the maquiladora workers in Tijuana. What is most disturbing to me about the film is the inability of the Mexican government to crack down on the corporations because their hands are tied by the loans they had to accept from the IMF and World Bank. The Mexican government is put in a position where they simply cannot fund the public sector or ensure simple rights to its citizens. In the documentary, much like the acid rain problem described earlier, factories caused health problems. However, only after 10 years of battle, the Mexican government finally agreed to clean up the pollutants (which were already in the ground and water supplies). In America, corporations to a large extent are held more responsible for their actions, as evidenced by the U.S.-Canadian Air Quality Agreement.                 Those affected by the negative environmental impacts of factories, though they may face an uphill battle for justice, much band together and demand reparations Beyond this, agreements much like the U.S.-Canadian Air Quality Agreement must be implemented before the effects are felt. This way, although the profits of corporations may dip slightly, humans, non-humans, and Mother Earth will be much happier.

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For my mother in her small humid room her hands going in circles around and around on the faces and arms of the same women Shoulders and elbows twisted and locked for the beauty of each customer

Para las mujeres que viven en la frontera their bodies making one movement until it becomes like walking or breathing but more forced Plastic and wires assembled in this toxic place in the name productivity and capitalism 

Every day with their hands Todos los días con las manos Every day with their hands Todos los días con las manos 

I want to set them free, muscles and minds unclenched Pero no sé cómo I want to help them, my mother and the women Quiero ayudarlas but I don't have a way to no hay nada que puedo hacer