Small Groups, Big Impact Have you ever felt like the odds were against you? Like there were no hopes in fixing a global issue because you were only one person? From the essay “How to Melt the Arctic,” written by John Bocknek, he says, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” The author enforces that no matter the problem, a person or a group of people can change a global issue. In today’s society, people underestimate the impact that they have if they work by themselves or even in an organization. But not all people have this mind set, most notably, David Suzuki and Erin Brockovich have fought the odds and showed humanity that no matter where you come
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As a young adult she was an only parent trying to raise her three children in California. After being fired from her job, she applied to a local law firm with no experience in law or any education in the field, she was hired because she had been pursuing a case against Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). The mega company was using Chromium-6 in their water supply where a small town became exposed. Chromium 6 is a heavy metal known to be a carcinogen to humans as well as causing defects in infants. Brockovich went to numerous families in the area that were exposed to the contaminated water and all were affected in one way or another; brain cancer, tumours, miscarriages etc. PG&E went as far as to pay doctors to tell these families that the abnormalities occurring were caused by different factors and that Chromium-6 was perfectly safe. With support from the law firm, PG&E was sued for $333 million dollars while the money went to the families impacted by this unethical practice (“Erin Brockovich”). Brockovich now works on other cases that have to do with the unethical practices, the newest addition being the Flint water contamination. Some would assume that because they are only one person they have no overall impact but Erin Brockovich grew an empire that now fights global
As a young adult she was an only parent trying to raise her three children in California. After being fired from her job, she applied to a local law firm with no experience in law or any education in the field, she was hired because she had been pursuing a case against Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). The mega company was using Chromium-6 in their water supply where a small town became exposed. Chromium 6 is a heavy metal known to be a carcinogen to humans as well as causing defects in infants. Brockovich went to numerous families in the area that were exposed to the contaminated water and all were affected in one way or another; brain cancer, tumours, miscarriages etc. PG&E went as far as to pay doctors to tell these families that the abnormalities occurring were caused by different factors and that Chromium-6 was perfectly safe. With support from the law firm, PG&E was sued for $333 million dollars while the money went to the families impacted by this unethical practice (“Erin Brockovich”). Brockovich now works on other cases that have to do with the unethical practices, the newest addition being the Flint water contamination. Some would assume that because they are only one person they have no overall impact but Erin Brockovich grew an empire that now fights global