Scottie Gilg - Free Response 2 (2/3/2023)

In my Writing Intensive class, Writing about the Environment, we had Chief Fire Marshal Jeff Senter come into our class. In this class, we are partnering with the Newport News fire department to help them develop policies that could be implemented for the health and wellness of the people in Newport News. The main question I had when I heard that we were partnering with them was “why is the Newport News fire department interested in the environment?” Through this discussion, I found that the department does much more than just fight fires. Every year there are only about 200 fires, while there are hundreds and hundreds of cases of hazardous materials spills. Along with the environmental hazards, Jeff Senter said, one issue he was most concerned with was social cohesion. He said that you are a consequence of your environment. Environment affects behavior and behavior affects cohesion. 

I really enjoyed his talk to our class because something I did not know was that hydrocarbons, in his opinion, are the most dangerous to the environment because they are in such wide usage. Lithium batteries are also bad as they are in cell phones, hoverboards, Telsas, in everything. The battery itself is not unstable but if something were to happen, it would be very bad for the environment. For example, if a lithium battery happens to catch on fire, it would take 30,000+ gallons of water. Even after it goes out, it would still light again due to its battery. I am really excited to be working with the Fire Department and trying to make policies that can help better the community of Newport News. 

 

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