Tuesday, November 18, 2008

The book Cradle to Cradle is a bit difficult to get through. However, I found the last part of the book to be full of information that I had never heard of before. I found it comforting to see a giant corporation like (Ford motor corporation) finally take action and responsibility for environmental degradation that they have inflicted on an area through years of operation. Instead of abandoning the site this company has chosen to find alternative ways of cleanup. By doing this they have opened up new jobs in different fields of expertise. They are also allowing their employees to voice their own personal opinion and ideas on the matter of making the factory more suitable for the environment in which it exists. Collaboration of many is the way the Ford motor company has had success in the early stages of the so called "Green Revolution." The process that they have gone through has revitalized their factory" The Rouge" the biggest manufacturing plant in the world. I cannot imagine walking away from this facility only to find a new area and start all over again. Leaving behind an area not even suitable for indigenous flora and fauna. As I mentioned before this company has not abandoned this site like many companies do over and over again. Not just in the continental United States either. This happens on the global level. I find the problem to be disturbing as I am sure it is to most people.I feel the lack of knowledge is part of the problem. Information like this seems to get swept under the mat and disregarded as unimportant. It's not enticing news such as, an earthquake in China, or the presidential campaign, or the divorce between Madonna and her former husband. The fact is it really is important. Some of it may be ground breaking in the seemingly endless pursuit of sustainability. What if the public were to find out about these innovations that Ford has come up with to return the factory site back to the way it was before there was a River Rouge factory? Is it possible that more information to the public may sway the way they think and how they conduct their daily life to move closer to sustainability and embrace the Green Revolution? I think if this had made headline news the movement toward renewable and clean energy sources would be instilled in everyones mind. This might even bring noticeable awareness to the federal government so they would act on it and do something about it rather then offer up the same ideas to put a band aid fix on old technology. I agree with many of the ideas in this book. I honestly feel that these innovations should be easier for the public to notice them. Instead of a small section of the news paper that may be located in the back maybe it could take up a large section on the front page. bottom line quick easy access to the information because I had no idea what Ford has done to this point until I read this book.

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