Flush your disgust. We can’t let emotions dampen our water policies GlobeDebate
Local sewage activist James Skwarok, also known as Mr. Floatie, walks along the seawall near Clover Point in Victoria, B.C., on Nov. 22, 2012.Sarah Wolfe is an associate professor and associate director of the undergraduate studies School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability at the University of Waterloo.
Ew, yuck! That exclamation is a common verbalization of disgust. And we all know what disgust feels like, too: a stomach clench and nose wrinkle as our brain tells us to be cautious about something slimy or rotten, festering or putrid, burrowing or slithering. Psychologists have learned that disgust is aon human behaviour, and that we’ve evolved the emotion to keep us safe – so that we don’t eat certain things, for instance.
Psychologists may understand how disgust works, but little of that science has made its way into other fields or our public policy. In the field in which I work – research on the interactions between people, society and water – the role of emotions generally, and of disgust specifically, is largely ignored.Yet, increasingly extreme water conditions are affecting our societies and our water policies, and consumption behaviours are out of step with those conditions.
Sometimes this kind of disgust reaction undermines good public policy. The collection, cleaning and reintroduction of “dirty” water – including sewage – into water systems is a well-proven method to safely maximize drinking-water availability in water-scarce areas.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Must See: Williams smashes dunk from Waters in LSU winTremont Waters drives to the cup and dumps a pass to Emmitt Williams for the furious flush, as LSU takes down Yale 79-74.
Read more »
‘Let her speak and we will let you sleep’: Tories filibuster over Wilson-Raybould motionIn a vote of 161-134, the Liberal majority shot down a Conservative motion calling on Justin Trudeau to let the former attorney general testify more fully about SNC-Lavalin
Read more »
'Everybody’s allowed a voice': What do Leafs think of Sparks' call for emotion?After Garret Sparks called out the team following Saturday's loss to the Sens, saying that he wants to see more emotion from his teammates on the ice, Nazem Kadri and Mike Babcock support Sparks for speaking his mind, despite the backup netminder not being among the core leaders in the dressing room.
Read more »
Islamic world reacts with disgust after deadly attacks at New Zealand mosquesSome political and Islamic leaders cite rising ‘Islamophobia’ as responsible as 49 are killed
Read more »
'Disgusting and heartbreaking': Dead whale swallowed 40 kilograms of garbageA dead whale swallowed roughly 40 kilograms of garbage including rice sacks and grocery bags, according to a necropsy conducted by a non-profit in in the Philippines.
Read more »
Federal Budget Combats Food Waste With New National PolicyThe aim is to increase access to healthy Canadian-grown and produced food.
Read more »
Federal Reserve likely to disappoint policy doves: strategistExpectations for interest-rate levels between policymakers and markets are extraordinarily wide.
Read more »
The First Time Home Buyer Incentive is bad policyDoes this policy make sense given the government’s stated goals? Our read of the economic evidence from similar policies is a qualified ‘no’
Read more »
Federal budget 2019: Details released on long-awaited national food policyAmid the food-related promises includes a pledge to deliver healthy meals to kids in schools across the country
Read more »