One hundred seventy years ago, tuberculosis was a lethal disease. This illness posed a significant threat to humanity, resulting in an estimated 1 billion deaths between 1700 and 1900. Notably, traces of tuberculosis have been found in the mummies of ancient Egyptian kings. In the late 1840s, German botanist Hermann Brehmer, confronted with the fatality of tuberculosis, relocated to the Himalayas in search of fresh air. Remarkably, he survived and is believed to have successfully fought off Mycobacterium tuberculosis in that less favorable environment for bacterial growth. As a result, numerous nursing homes emerged across Europe and the United States, including specialized facilities for tuberculosis care and luxury accommodations for the affluent. However, by the 1940s, many of these nursing homes began closing due to the emergence of antibiotics, which drastically changed their economic viability. Throughout history, it seems that economic value often proves transient. - Joseph’s “j...
Eco bags are not eco-friendly. In 2007, the eco-bags, which British designer Anya Hindmarch printed, “I’m Not a Plastic Bag” on canvas, sold out 20,000 copies in 30 minutes at a limited edition price of 5 pounds. The project reduced the use of plastic bags by 58% over the next two years in Britain. However, a survey by the British Environment Agency found that consumers used paper bags at least 3 times more to have less environmental impact than plastic bags and used eco bags 131 times more to help protect the environment. In 2018, Denmark also announced a study that indicated people used plastic bags at least 37 times, paper bags 43 times, and eco bags 7,100 times before being discarded to recover from pollution. Yes, the facts that people believe have cheated us all. Materials and consumption are necessary, but people belatedly realized that environmental protection should also consider product use cycles and production. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”