Air Quote by David W. Orr
“... laws governing pollution tend to move pollutants from one medium to another. So, for example, we scrub SO2 from power plants only to dispose toxic sludge on land. We "clean" water only to disperse toxic-laced solids on farmland or landfills. Pollution control becomes a kind of giant shell game by which we move pollutants between air, water, groundwater, and land.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Earth in Mind, David W. Orr, 1994
Environmental policies often shift contaminants between air, water, and land, creating a “shell game” rather than eliminating pollution.
In simple terms: Pollution control swaps toxins between media instead of removing them.
Key Takeaway
Address root causes, not just displacement.
Themes
environment
policy
pollution
systems
sustainability
Mood
concerned
critical
Type
analytical
policy
environmental
When to use this quote
- industrial regulation
- waste management
- urban planning
- agricultural practices
- public health initiatives
Key Concepts
externalities
systems thinking
environmental justice
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we design solutions that truly eliminate waste?
- What trade‑offs arise when shifting pollution?
A Different Perspective
Simply moving pollutants can create new risks elsewhere.
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