A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr - Book Report/Review Example

A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr Name Institution Introduction Civil Action by Jonathan Harr was realised in 1996. It provides a true account of water contamination that took place in Woburn, Massachusetts. The book provides a litigation story over cancer clusters in Massachusetts. WR Grace and Beatrice Foods Company were accused by the plaintiffs represented by Jan Shlichtmann. The companies had a tanning plant nearby that dumped various carcinogens into the ground water. The case spanned for several years and led to several opinions. The case has since acted as a teaching aid for civil professors. Jonathan Harr provides a healthy dose of attention by providing riveting moments in the book. This paper provides a review of the Civil action book. Importance in our current culture (politics, science, etc.) and point in history Despite the length and the scrupulous detail of the book it’s very important in our current culture. The members of public are greatly affected by the disposal of carcinogens in the ground water. The disposal leads to the contamination, death and suffering in the town. The citizens are greatly affected and need to be saved from this menace. They file a case against powerful conglomerates, the great odds and the government. Moreover, they are just a working class of people in the town and are not favoured by the judicial system. The citizens had no certainty that at one time they would win the case and achieve their prime goal of holding Beatrice and Grace Company responsible for the contamination, sufferings and deaths and make them clean the mess. Politically, the story depicts how powerful persons in the government or those who hold leadership positions are capable of controlling the judicial systems. They are favoured in various judicial processes. The companies are not held responsible for the pollution due to lack of proper and adequate evidence. Scientifically, the story depicts that disposal of carcinogens in the groundwater leads to massive pollution of the ground water and posses adverse health effects to the general public. Point in history, the book can act as a springboard for depicting the fate of similarly contaminated and polluted communities and the experiences they have had in the American judicial system struggling with the corporations who are responsible for their conditions. The case exposes in detail the recklessness and the ruthlessness with which such corporations seek for profit at the expense of the lives and health of the unsuspecting families. Such corporations are favoured in the judicial system and are not held responsible for their actions. However, through consistence and perseverance, they are capable of finding their solace. How the information presented, its effective delivery and the effect of what I learnt from the book The information is well presented by the author is clear and direct. The book provides neat, well put together and little is left for imagination. There is the use of certain images in the book to provide a clear understanding of the contamination. Water vessels and glasses are provided throughout the book to remind the reader that WR Grace and Beatrice Foods are the ones responsible for water contamination in Woburn. Additionally, the book provides a scene of gruesome death of Leukaemia victims to show the effect of the contamination. The information provided is well elaborated and even an illiterate person is able to read the book and easily sense from the beginning where and how the main characters will fit into the tale, and how their fate will be in the story. For instance, Schlichman is seen to be full of himself and he likes and loves finer things in life, however, he will finally have a change of heart. Jerome Facher who is the Attorney for Beatrice Foods is unassuming and eccentric fanatic whose intense legal skills are likely to get the job done for Beatrice Foods. Ann Anderson who is a Woburn resident is a mid-mannered woman whose perseverance is likely to pay off. There is effective character development and the plot is clear and understandable. There are no fancy unbelievable endings and loose ends in the book. The plot moves at a good pace and the case is well presented. The book is enjoyable and pleasurable to read The delivery is very effective. The reader is likely to have a clear understanding of what actually occurred and how the case was settled. I was not surprised by what I learnt from the story. It is true that corporations that control human life have an upper hand in determination of their cases in the judicial corridors. Consequently, they often make profits regardless of the effects their activities possess to the general public. The story illustrates how the general public are oppressed and how there exist biasness in the judicial systems. However, through perseverance, they are likely to be free from their oppression. They should solder on and fight for their right and never give up no matter the situation. An anecdote in my life which is relevant to the content in the book I have experienced other companies in the United States such as the Tyson foods and Perdue Farms dumping their waste more than 206 pounds of it into the water ways and do not take part in the cleaning exercise. They leave others to do the cleaning on their behalf. As much as the Environmental Protection Agencies attempts to clean up the environment, these companies are continuously polluting the environment regardless of the outcome the pollution poses on the individuals. Tyson foods send over eighteen million pounds of toxic substances into the United States Waterways every year. These companies are making profits at the expense of the general public. They are taking the advantage of the general public to gain profits and acquire more wealth. Their main intention is to retain their position, able to pollute the US water ways. Through court cases and loopholes, they have made drinking water for many Americans unsafe for drinking. This is similar to the case of Beatrice Foods and WR Grace Companies who pollute the water ways but are not held responsible for their actions by the court of law. There is biasness in the court of law and large corporations often win any case against them, this compels them to continuously pollute the environment, thus endangering the health of the general public. How the content of the book fit with my learning in class regarding environmental health The content of the book fits with what have been learning in class regarding environmental health. In class, I have been learning that environmental health should be given first priority and the environment should be sustainable for human growth. Sustainability is vital in today’s society. Individuals. Industries should ensure their activities should meet the current needs without compromising the needs and wants of the future generation. There should be improved standard of living in the environment through efficient use of available resources and avoid contamination of the environment at all cost. Creation of environment sustainability demands the integration of economic, social and environmental priorities into various programs and policies that needs action at every level. All stakeholders should be involved in creation of the environment. One party should not benefit at the expense of the other party. Any party should be held responsible for any alteration made within the environment. Consequently, there should be fare hearing in the corridors of justice to book those who violate the environmental laws. Through this, the environment can be healthy without diseases such as Leukaemia as seen in the book. Finally, i learn that, for healthy environment, there should be proactive and responsible decision-making and various innovations that can minimize adverse impacts and helps in maintaining balance between economic prosperity, ecological resilience, cultural vibrancy and political justice to ensure desirable environment for all species now and in the future. Role of public health professionals in addressing the issue at hand Public health professionals have a great and significant role to play to help solve the issue at hand; environmental pollution has lead to the suffering and deaths of many citizens in the town. Its time for the health professionals to step up and provide several guidelines which can help prevent or minimise the menace. One way health professional can help is to communicate health information in various ways which can be easily interpreted by the society and individuals. Lack of proper and adequate health information may have made the companies to contaminate the ground water. Through effective communication, they can be aware of the dangers of disposing company wastes into the water sources and find alternative disposal sites. The other way is through implementation of various educational programs, recommendation of policies, and administering services to the general public. Health professionals should establish policies that guide the operations within the environment. They should implement rules that hinder environmental pollution by any party. Any party responsible for environmental pollution should be held responsible. The rules and regulations can help guide all the activities within the environment. Through this, they are capable of preventing environment pollution and create a sustainable environment. Finally, public health officers should bring an understanding of risk assessment, microbiology, food science, and technology as well as various skills related to the tracking and control of communicable diseases such as leukaemia. They need to possess strong investigative skills and proper understanding of various legislations related to the environment and public health. Through this, they are able to find solution to certain diseases such as Leukaemia and determine the extent of water contamination in Woburn. Conclusion The author provides a clear account of how various companies take part in the pollution of the environment but are not held responsible for their actions. They use their position to influence the outcomes by the judicial systems. Through this, the companies make profits at the expense of the general public. It is in order for all the stakeholders in the environment to work together in creation of a sustainable environment free from various forms of pollution. Public health professionals should provide adequate health communication and formulate various policies which can help in conserving the environment. Reference Jonathan H. (2011). A Civil Action.USA: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group Read More

The case exposes in detail the recklessness and the ruthlessness with which such corporations seek for profit at the expense of the lives and health of the unsuspecting families. Such corporations are favoured in the judicial system and are not held responsible for their actions. However, through consistence and perseverance, they are capable of finding their solace. How the information presented, its effective delivery and the effect of what I learnt from the book The information is well presented by the author is clear and direct.

The book provides neat, well put together and little is left for imagination. There is the use of certain images in the book to provide a clear understanding of the contamination. Water vessels and glasses are provided throughout the book to remind the reader that WR Grace and Beatrice Foods are the ones responsible for water contamination in Woburn. Additionally, the book provides a scene of gruesome death of Leukaemia victims to show the effect of the contamination. The information provided is well elaborated and even an illiterate person is able to read the book and easily sense from the beginning where and how the main characters will fit into the tale, and how their fate will be in the story.

For instance, Schlichman is seen to be full of himself and he likes and loves finer things in life, however, he will finally have a change of heart. Jerome Facher who is the Attorney for Beatrice Foods is unassuming and eccentric fanatic whose intense legal skills are likely to get the job done for Beatrice Foods. Ann Anderson who is a Woburn resident is a mid-mannered woman whose perseverance is likely to pay off. There is effective character development and the plot is clear and understandable.

There are no fancy unbelievable endings and loose ends in the book. The plot moves at a good pace and the case is well presented. The book is enjoyable and pleasurable to read The delivery is very effective. The reader is likely to have a clear understanding of what actually occurred and how the case was settled. I was not surprised by what I learnt from the story. It is true that corporations that control human life have an upper hand in determination of their cases in the judicial corridors.

Consequently, they often make profits regardless of the effects their activities possess to the general public. The story illustrates how the general public are oppressed and how there exist biasness in the judicial systems. However, through perseverance, they are likely to be free from their oppression. They should solder on and fight for their right and never give up no matter the situation. An anecdote in my life which is relevant to the content in the book I have experienced other companies in the United States such as the Tyson foods and Perdue Farms dumping their waste more than 206 pounds of it into the water ways and do not take part in the cleaning exercise.

They leave others to do the cleaning on their behalf. As much as the Environmental Protection Agencies attempts to clean up the environment, these companies are continuously polluting the environment regardless of the outcome the pollution poses on the individuals. Tyson foods send over eighteen million pounds of toxic substances into the United States Waterways every year. These companies are making profits at the expense of the general public. They are taking the advantage of the general public to gain profits and acquire more wealth.

Their main intention is to retain their position, able to pollute the US water ways. Through court cases and loopholes, they have made drinking water for many Americans unsafe for drinking. This is similar to the case of Beatrice Foods and WR Grace Companies who pollute the water ways but are not held responsible for their actions by the court of law. There is biasness in the court of law and large corporations often win any case against them, this compels them to continuously pollute the environment, thus endangering the health of the general public.

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