Chapter 32: Our Stollen Futrure

This chapter is essentially and extended excerpt from a book of which the title of this section shares its name. It talks about the connection all animals (and humans) share with each other on a very basic genetic level. What happens to a species in one part of the planet is important to us all. An example is a 1980's study by Theo Colborn that showed that estrogen from synthetic chemicals was polluting the Great Lakes (as well as Florida and Northern Europe) inhibiting the development of many animals. This brought about significant testing of chemicals on animals, such as mice, to determine how synthetic products may harm humans who come in contact with them. There is an ongoing debate amongst scientists as to whether animal testing can accurately determine the risk a substance has to humans or the "mice are not little people" debate.The chapter highlights endocrine disruption question and onto the Wingspread Conference Centre meeting in 1991 where 21 researchers came to the conclusion that hormone disruptor's are threatening the survival of animal populations and jeopardizing our (mankind's) future. The U.S. is mentioned as expressing an increasing concern for increasing number of abnormalities in children due to endocrine interruption. The chapter ends off by saying what a tradjedy it is that we ignored warnings to the harmful effects of synthetic chemicals for so long.