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Made By : Kaleb Felgueira
Student Number :100633276
Working individually

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Definition: Just because something is all natural doesn't mean that it's all butterflies and rainbows. A lot of all-natural things can be harmful to humans either by consuming the product or by touching or inhaling it.
Connection: Asbestos has been used for many different things such as, Fireproof Materials, Insulation, Etc. A lot of people when thinking of Asbestos think of the Insulation in houses but many people do not know that it is a mineral found in rocks. So, when Asbestos is disturbed and inhaled, it is very harmful to the human body, and studies have shown that Asbestos causes many diseases such as mesothelioma which is a rare form of cancer.

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On This Page

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is the name given to six minerals that occur naturally in the environment as bundles of fibers that can be separated into thin, durable threads for use in commercial and industrial applications. These fibers are resistant to heat, fire, and chemicals and do not conduct electricity. For these reasons, asbestos has been used widely in many industries. Additional asbestos-like minerals are found in the natural environment, including erionite.

Chemically, asbestos minerals are silicate compounds, meaning they contain atoms of silicon and oxygen in their molecular structure.

Asbestos minerals are divided into two major groups: Serpentine asbestos and amphibole asbestos. Serpentine asbestos includes the mineral chrysotile, which has long, curly fibers that can be woven. Chrysotile asbestos is the form that has been used most widely in commercial applications. Amphibole asbestos includes the minerals actinolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, and amosite. Amphibole asbestos has straight, needle-like fibers that are more brittle than those of serpentine asbestos and are more limited in their ability to be fabricated ( 1, 2).

How is asbestos used?

Asbestos has been mined and used commercially in North America since the late 1800s. Its use increased greatly during World War II ( 3, 4). Since then, asbestos has been used in many industries. For example, the building and construction industries have used it for strengthening cement and plastics as well as for insulation, roofing, fireproofing, and sound absorption. The shipbuilding industry has used asbestos to insulate boilers, steam pipes, and hot water pipes. The automotive industry uses asbestos in vehicle brake shoes and clutch pads. Asbestos has also been used in ceiling and floor tiles; paints, coatings, and adhesives; and plastics. In addition, asbestos has been found in vermiculite-containing garden products and some talc-containing crayons.

In the late 1970s, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned the use of asbestos in wallboard patching compounds and gas fireplaces because the asbestos fibers in these products could be released into the environment during use. In addition, manufacturers of electric hairdryers voluntarily stopped using asbestos in their products in 1979. In 1989, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned all new uses of asbestos; however, uses developed before 1989 are still allowed. The EPA also established regulations that require school systems to inspect buildings for the presence of damaged asbestos and to eliminate or reduce asbestos exposure to occupants by removing the asbestos or encasing it ( 2).

In June 2000, the CPSC concluded that the risk of children's exposure to asbestos fibers in crayons was extremely low. U.S. manufacturers of these crayons agreed to eliminate talc from their products.

In August 2000, the EPA conducted a series of tests to evaluate the risk for consumers of adverse health effects associated with exposure to asbestos-contaminated vermiculite. The EPA concluded that exposure to asbestos from some vermiculite products poses only a minimal health risk. The EPA recommended that consumers reduce the low risk associated with the occasional use of vermiculite during gardening activities by limiting the amount of dust produced during vermiculite use. Specifically, the EPA suggested that consumers use vermiculite outdoors or in a well-ventilated area; keep vermiculite damp while using it; avoid bringing dust from vermiculite into the home on clothing; and use premixed potting soil, which is less likely to generate dust ( 2).

The regulations described above and other actions, coupled with widespread public concern about the health hazards of asbestos, have resulted in a significant annual decline in the U.S. use of asbestos. Domestic consumption of asbestos amounted to about 803,000 metric tons in 1973, but it had dropped to about 360 metric tons by 2015 ( 3, 5).

What are the health hazards of exposure to asbestos?

People may be exposed to asbestos in their workplace, their communities, or their homes. If products containing asbestos are disturbed, tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air. When asbestos fibers are breathed in, they may get trapped in the lungs and remain there for a long time. Over time, these fibers can accumulate and cause scarring and inflammation, which can affect breathing and lead to serious health problems ( 6).

Asbestos has been classified as a known human carcinogen (a substance that causes cancer) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) ( 2, 3, 7, 8). According to IARC, there is sufficient evidence that asbestos causes mesothelioma (a relatively rare cancer of the thin membranes that line the chest and abdomen), and cancers of the lung, larynx, and ovary ( 8). Although rare, mesothelioma is the most common form of cancer associated with asbestos exposure. There is limited evidence that asbestos exposure is linked to increased risks of cancers of the stomach, pharynx, and colorectum ( 8).

Asbestos exposure may also increase the risk of asbestosis (an inflammatory condition affecting the lungs that can cause shortness of breath, coughing, and permanent lung damage) and other nonmalignant lung and pleural disorders, including pleural plaques (changes in the membranes surrounding the lung), pleural thickening, and benign pleural effusions (abnormal collections of fluid between the thin layers of tissue lining the lungs and the wall of the chest cavity). Although pleural plaques are not precursors to lung cancer, evidence suggests that people with pleural disease caused by exposure to asbestos may be at increased risk for lung cancer ( 2, 9).

Erionite has also been classified as a known human carcinogen by IARC ( 8) and by HHS ( 3). It is not currently regulated by the EPA.

Who is at risk for an asbestos-related disease?

Everyone is exposed to asbestos at some time during their life. Low levels of asbestos are present in the air, water, and soil. However, most people do not become ill from their exposure. People who become ill from asbestos are usually those who are exposed to it on a regular basis, most often in a job where they work directly with the material or through substantial environmental contact.

Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos. Health hazards from asbestos fibers have been recognized in workers exposed in the shipbuilding trades, asbestos mining and milling, manufacturing of asbestos textiles and other asbestos products, insulation work in the construction and building trades, and a variety of other trades. Demolition workers, drywall removers, asbestos removal workers, firefighters, and automobile workers also may be exposed to asbestos fibers. Studies evaluating the cancer risk experienced by automobile mechanics exposed to asbestos through brake repair are limited, but the overall evidence suggests there is no safe level of asbestos exposure ( 3, 8). As a result of government regulations and improved work practices, today's workers (those without previous exposure) are likely to face smaller risks than did those exposed in the past.

Individuals involved in the rescue, recovery, and cleanup at the site of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City are another group at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease. Because asbestos was used in the construction of the North Tower of the WTC, when the building was attacked, hundreds of tons of asbestos were released into the atmosphere. Those at greatest risk include firefighters, police officers, paramedics, construction workers, and volunteers who worked in the rubble at Ground Zero. Others at risk include residents in close proximity to the WTC towers and those who attended schools nearby. These individuals will need to be followed to determine the long-term health consequences of their exposure ( 10). However, it is important to note that any symptoms these individuals experience may be related to exposure to debris components other than asbestos.

Although it is clear that the health risks from asbestos exposure increase with heavier exposure and longer exposure time, investigators have found asbestos-related diseases in individuals with only brief exposures. Generally, those who develop asbestos-related diseases show no signs of illness for a long time after exposure. It can take from 10 to 40 years or more for symptoms of an asbestos-related condition to appear ( 2).

There is some evidence that family members of workers heavily exposed to asbestos face an increased risk of developing mesothelioma ( 11). This risk is thought to result from exposure to asbestos fibers brought into the home on the shoes, clothing, skin, and hair of workers. To decrease these exposures, Federal law regulates workplace practices to limit the possibility of asbestos being brought home in this way. Some employees may be required to shower and change their clothes before they leave work, store their street clothes in a separate area of the workplace, or wash their work clothes at home separately from other clothes ( 2).

Cases of mesothelioma have also been seen in individuals without occupational asbestos exposure who live close to asbestos mines ( 11).

What factors affect the risk of developing an asbestos-related disease?

Several factors can help to determine how asbestos exposure affects an individual, including:

Dose (how much asbestos an individual was exposed to)

Duration (how long an individual was exposed)

Size, shape, and chemical makeup of the asbestos fibers

Source of the exposure

Individual risk factors, such as smoking and pre-existing lung disease

Genetic factors, such as having a germline mutation in BAP1 (12)

Although all forms of asbestos are considered hazardous, different types of asbestos fibers may be associated with different health risks. For example, the results of several studies suggest that amphibole forms of asbestos may be more harmful than chrysotile, particularly for mesothelioma risk, because they tend to stay in the lungs for a longer period of time ( 1, 2).

How does smoking affect risk?

Many studies have shown that the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure is particularly hazardous. Smokers who are also exposed to asbestos have a risk of developing lung cancer that is greater than the individual risks from asbestos and smoking added together ( 3, 6). There is evidence that quitting smoking will reduce the risk of lung cancer among asbestos-exposed workers ( 4). Smoking combined with asbestos exposure does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma ( 9). However, people who were exposed to asbestos on the job at any time during their life or who suspect they may have been exposed should not smoke.

How are asbestos-related diseases detected?

Individuals who have been exposed (or suspect they have been exposed) to asbestos fibers on the job, through the environment, or at home via a family contact should inform their doctor about their exposure history and whether or not they experience any symptoms. The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases may not become apparent for many decades after the exposure. It is particularly important to check with a doctor if any of the following symptoms develop:

Shortness of breath, wheezing, or hoarseness

A persistent cough that gets worse over time

Blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up from the lungs

Pain or tightening in the chest

Difficulty swallowing

Swelling of the neck or face

Loss of appetite

Weight loss

Fatigue or anemia

A thorough physical examination, including a chest x-ray and lung function tests, may be recommended. The chest x-ray is currently the most common tool used to detect asbestos-related diseases. Although chest x-rays cannot detect asbestos fibers in the lungs, they can help identify any early signs of lung disease resulting from asbestos exposure ( 2).

A lung biopsy, which detects microscopic asbestos fibers in pieces of lung tissue removed by surgery, is the most reliable test to confirm exposure to asbestos ( 2). A bronchoscopy is a less invasive test than a biopsy and detects asbestos fibers in material that is rinsed out of the lungs ( 2). It is important to note that these procedures cannot determine how much asbestos an individual may have been exposed to or whether disease will develop. Asbestos fibers can also be detected in urine, mucus, and feces, but these tests are not reliable for determining how much asbestos may be in an individual's lungs ( 2).

How can workers protect themselves from asbestos exposure?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a component of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and is the Federal agency responsible for health and safety regulations in maritime, construction, manufacturing, and service workplaces. OSHA established regulations dealing with asbestos exposure on the job, specifically in construction work, shipyards, and general industry, that employers are required to follow. In addition, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), another component of DOL, enforces regulations related to mine safety. Workers should use all protective equipment provided by their employers and follow recommended workplace practices and safety procedures. For example, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-approved respirators that fit properly should be worn by workers when required.

Workers who are concerned about asbestos exposure in the workplace should discuss the situation with other employees, their employee health and safety representative, and their employers. If necessary, OSHA can provide more information or make an inspection. Information about regional offices can also be found on OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov/html/RAmap.html.

More information about asbestos is available on OSHA's Asbestos page, which has links to information about asbestos in the workplace, including what OSHA standards apply, the hazards of asbestos, evaluating asbestos exposure, and controls used to protect workers. OSHA's national office can be contacted at:

Office of Public Affairs
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
202-693-1999
1-800-321-6742 (1-800-321-OSHA)
1-877-889-5627 (TTY)
https://www.osha.gov/workers (workers' page)

Mine workers can contact MSHA at:

Office of Public Affairs
Mine Safety and Health Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
202-693-9400
https://www.msha.gov
https://www.msha.gov/support-resources/forms-online-filing/2015/10/15/hazardous-condition-complaint (Hazardous Condition Complaint)

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is another Federal agency that is concerned with asbestos exposure in the workplace. NIOSH conducts asbestos-related research, evaluates work sites for possible health hazards, and makes exposure control recommendations. In addition, NIOSH distributes publications on the health effects of asbestos exposure and can suggest additional sources of information. NIOSH can be contacted at:

Education and Information Division
Information Resources Branch
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh

What programs are available to help individuals with asbestos-related diseases?

Some people with asbestos-related illness may be eligible for Medicare coverage. Information about benefits is available from Medicare's Regional Offices, located in 10 major cities across the United States and serving specific geographic areas. The Regional Offices serve as the agency's initial point of contact for beneficiaries, health care providers, state and local governments, and the general public. General information about Medicare is available by calling toll-free 1-800-633-4227 (1-800-MEDICARE) or by visiting the Medicare website.

People with occupational asbestos-related diseases also may qualify for financial help, including medical payments, under state workers' compensation laws. Because eligibility requirements vary from state to state, workers employed by private companies or by state and local government agencies should contact their state workers' compensation board. Contact information for state workers' compensation officials may be found at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) website.

If exposure occurred during employment with a Federal agency, medical expenses and other compensation may be covered by the Federal Employees' Compensation Program, which is administered by the DOL Employment Standards Administration's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs. This program provides workers' compensation benefits to Federal (civilian) employees for employment-related injuries and diseases. Benefits include wage replacement, payment for medical care, and, where necessary, medical and vocational rehabilitation assistance in returning to work. Benefits may also be provided to dependents if the injury or disease causes the employee's death.

In addition, the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Program provides benefits to longshoremen, harbor workers, other maritime workers, and other classes of private industry workers who are injured during the course of employment or suffer from diseases caused or worsened by conditions of employment. Information about eligibility and how to file a claim for benefits under either of these programs is available from:

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs
Employment Standards Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
1-866-692-7487 (1-866-OWCPIVR)
202-693-0040 ( Federal Employees' Compensation Program)
202-693-0038 ( Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Program)
https://www.dol.gov/owcp

Eligible veterans may receive health care at a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center for an asbestos-related disease. Veterans can receive treatment for service-connected and nonservice-connected medical conditions. Information about eligibility and benefits is available from the VA Health Benefits Service Center at 1-877-222-8387 (1-877-222-VETS) or on the VA website.

What other organizations offer information related to asbestos exposure?

The organizations listed below can provide more information about asbestos exposure.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is the principal Federal agency responsible for evaluating the human health effects of exposure to hazardous substances. This agency works in close collaboration with local, state, and other Federal agencies, with tribal governments, and with communities and local health care providers to help prevent or reduce harmful human health effects from exposure to hazardous substances. The ATSDR provides information about asbestos and where to find occupational and environmental health clinics. The ATSDR can be contacted at:

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO)
1-888-232-6348 (TTY)
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the general public's exposure to asbestos in buildings, drinking water, and the environment. The EPA offers a Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Hotline and an Asbestos Ombudsman. The TSCA Hotline provides technical assistance and information about asbestos programs implemented under the TSCA, which include the Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act and the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act. The Asbestos Ombudsman focuses on asbestos in schools and handles questions and complaints. Both the TSCA Hotline and the Asbestos Ombudsman can provide publications on a number of topics, particularly on controlling asbestos exposure in schools and other buildings. The Ombudsman operates a toll-free hotline for small businesses, trade associations, and others seeking free, confidential help.

The EPA website includes a list of EPA state asbestos contacts. In addition, EPA's Asbestos page provides links to information about asbestos and its health effects, including suggestions for homeowners who suspect asbestos in their homes, and laws and regulations applicable to asbestos. Questions may be directed to:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
202-554-1404 (TSCA Hotline)
1-800-368-5888 (Asbestos Ombudsman)
https://www.epa.gov/asbestos

Another EPA resource that may be of interest is the brochure titled Current Best Practices for Preventing Asbestos Exposure Among Brake and Clutch Repair Workers. Released in April 2007, this brochure includes work practices for both automotive professionals and home mechanics that may be used to avoid asbestos exposure. It also summarizes existing OSHA regulatory requirements for professional auto mechanics.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is responsible for protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products, including asbestos, under the agency's jurisdiction. The CPSC maintains a toll-free 24-hour hotline where callers can obtain product safety and other agency information and report unsafe products. In addition, CPSC publications provide guidelines for repairing and removing asbestos, and general information about asbestos in the home. CPSC can be contacted at:

Office of Information and Public Affairs
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(301) 504-7923 (M-F 8 am - 4:30 pm ET)
1-800-638-2772 (Hotline)
301-595-7054 (TTY)
https://www.cpsc.gov/

Individuals can also contact their local or state health department with questions or concerns about asbestos.

Selected References

1. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Public Health Statement for Asbestos. September 2001. Retrieved April 18, 2017.

2. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Asbestos. September 2001. Retrieved April 18, 2017.

3. National Toxicology Program. Asbestos. In: Report on Carcinogens. Fourteenth Edition. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Toxicology Program, 2016.

4. Ullrich RL. Etiology of cancer: Physical factors. In: DeVita VT Jr., Hellman S, Rosenberg SA, editors. Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. Vol. 1 and 2. 7 th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2004.

5. U.S. Geological Survey. Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2016: Asbestos. Retrieved April 18, 2017.

6. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Health Effects of Asbestos. Retrieved April 18, 2017.

7. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Health Effects Assessment for Asbestos. September 1984. EPA/540/1-86/049 (NTIS PB86134608). Retrieved April 18, 2017.

8. IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk to Humans. Arsenic, Metals, Fibres and Dusts. Lyon (FR): International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2012. (IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, No. 100C.)

9. O'Reilly KMA, McLaughlin AM, Beckett WS, et al. Asbestos-related lung disease. American Family Physician 2007; 75(5):683-688.
[PubMed Abstract]

10. Landrigan PJ, Lioy PJ, Thurston G, et al. Health and environmental consequences of the World Trade Center disaster. Environmental Health Perspectives 2004; 112(6):731-739.
[PubMed Abstract]

11. Goldberg M, Luce D. The health impact of nonoccupational exposure to asbestos: what do we know? European Journal of Cancer Prevention 2009; 18(6):489-503.
[PubMed Abstract]

12. Testa JR, Cheung M, Pei J, et al. Germline BAP1 mutations predispose to malignant mesothelioma. Nature Genetics 2011; 43(10):1022-1025.
[PubMed Abstract]

If you would like to reproduce some or all of this content, see Reuse of NCI Information for guidance about copyright and permissions. In the case of permitted digital reproduction, please credit the National Cancer Institute as the source and link to the original NCI product using the original product's title; e.g., "Asbestos Exposure and Cancer Risk was originally published by the National Cancer Institute."

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occupational safety and health administration (osha)

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On This Page What is asbestos? Asbestos is the name given to six minerals that occur naturally in the environment as bundles of fibers that can be separated into thin, durable threads for use in commercial and industrial applications. These fibers are resistant to heat, fire, and chemicals and do not conduct electricity.

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POST 3: RED FLAG (2) APPEAL TO AUTHORITY

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POST 3: RED FLAG (2) APPEAL TO AUTHORITY

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Definition: Appeal to authority is when companies use an authority like figure to make their product and or argument seem better than it is. They can use Celebrities, School names, and or anyone who looks like they know what they are talking about (a scientist wearing a lab coat) to make their product look better.
Connection: With the image attached of Colin Kaepernick and his movement about injustice of what is going on in the united states about equality, Nike decided to join in and help him with it. Many people were outraged (such as the President of the united states himself tweeting out, “What was Nike thinking”) and got backed up by even more athletes such as a titan in Serena Williams. This endorsement skyrocketed the sales of certain items helping Nike.

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Definition: Finding articles that only support your viewpoint. And only believing what you have been told if it coincides with your belief. When you hear something that goes against your belief or train of thought you immediately dismiss it in any form, whether it be facts or opinions.
Connection: A lot of people claim that when there is a full moon, people act a bit more out of line. This article proves that this statement is false. But even when people are given these facts that prove them wrong (such as police reports), they still refuse to believe it. Not to mention they continue with their beliefs as if nothing happens.

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It's a full Moon on September 25.

If past months have been anything to go by, this will be accompanied by a round of public chat about how this affects human behaviour - claims of more hospital admissions and arrests, to crazy antics in children.

Beliefs in the Moon's behavioural effects are not new and date back to ancient times. But what evidence is there that the Moon has an impact on behaviour?

As a criminologist, I look at evidence related to arrests and behaviour linked with criminal activity.

The only explanation I can see that links criminology with Moon phases is just about the practicalities of being a criminal: when it's a full Moon, there's more light.

Read more: Five reasons India, China and other nations plan to travel to the Moon

While somewhat dated, one of the most significant studies looking at Moon phases and linking this with behaviour is a 1985 meta-analysis - a study of the findings of 37 published and unpublished studies. The paper concludes it is not sound to infer that people behave any more - or less - strangely between Moon phases. The authors write:

Alleged relations between phases of the moon and behavior can be traced to inappropriate analyses [...] and a willingness to accept any departure from chance as evidence of a lunar effect.

Two more recent studies have looked at links between criminal activity and phases of the Moon.

A study published in 2009 looked at more than 23,000 cases of aggravated assaults that took place in Germany between 1999 and 2005. The authors found no correlation between battery and the various lunar phases.

A study reported in 2016 was careful to make a distinction between indoor and outdoor crime committed in 13 US states and the District of Columbia in 2014.

The authors found no link between lunar phases and total crime or indoor crime.

But they did find the intensity of moonlight to have a substantive positive effect on outdoor criminal activity. As moon illumination increased, they saw an escalation in criminal activity.

One explanation for this finding is what is referred to as the "illumination hypothesis" - suggesting that criminals like enough light to ply their trade, but not so much as to increase their chance of apprehension.

It may also be that there is greater movement of people during lighter nights, thus providing a bigger pool of victims.

Read more: Confirmation bias: A psychological phenomenon that helps explain why pundits got it wrong

Why do some people still cling to the belief that the Moon causes criminal or other antisocial behaviour? The answer most likely lies in human cognition and our tendency to focus on that which we expect or predict to be true.

During an expected lunar event - such as a full or super Moon - we expect that there will be a change in behaviour so we pay more attention when we see it. In the area of cognitive psychology this is known as confirmation bias.

But other questions remain, including why any behavioural effects must be inherently negative? Even if there was a direct effect, explanations as to why acts of kindness and altruism do not increase or decrease during Moon phases are conspicuously absent.

It is likely that we just assume the folklore is true, and believe that we become the werewolf and not the sheep.

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It's better light, not worse behaviour, that explains crimes on a full Moon

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It's a full Moon on September 25. If past months have been anything to go by, this will be accompanied by a round of public chat about how this affects human behaviour - claims of more hospital admissions and arrests, to crazy antics in children.

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Definition: A distraction that causes views to change from a logical one to one that is less logical then the other. A major contributor are conspiracy theorists who take throw nonsense out at a simple answer.
Connection: This article brings up how we use terrorism as a red herring for gun control. The US government has watch lists on people. This article claims that these lists are extremely unreliable and are not made up of concrete facts. They just use these so called “terrorists” as a blame for most of the violence going on, and are trying to have a “no-fly, No buy” situation be put in place where if you have immigrated into the US recently that you cannot buy fire arms (????)

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Democrat members of Congress, including Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., center, and Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn. participate in sit-down protest seeking a a vote on gun control measures Wednesday on the floor of the House.

When John Lewis, civil rights icon and Georgia congressman, led Democratic lawmakers in a sit-in on the House floor Wednesday, gun safety advocates cheered what they saw as a principled stand for a common-sense law: People suspected of being anti-American terrorists should not be allowed to buy guns.

However, critics -- including civil libertarians and anti-terror analysts -- think lawmakers standing for the so-called "no-fly, no-buy" legislation are facing the wrong direction, and that it won't keep dangerous people, mass shooters or everyday criminals from getting their hands on a gun.

"For a very long time we've had a number of these [watch] lists," says Faiza Patel, the co-director of the Liberty & National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University Law School.

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Besides being held secret by the government, "the criteria for getting on these lists are very vague and very broad," Patel says. It tends to be inaccurate, she says, and includes far more people who live overseas than it does Americans, who can walk into a local gun store, buy a weapon and wreak havoc here at home.

Moreover, "you don't have to have concrete facts to be placed on the watch list. You can be placed on it for unreliable or uncorroborated information," she says. "It's an unreliable indicator of dangerousness."

But gun-safety advocates say that, despite its flaws, the proposal is a big step in the right direction -- and, for once, Congress is leading the way.

"Where we are right now is that Congress is intensely focused on this question in preventing individuals who are known or suspected terrorists from having access to these weapons," says David Gude, a senior fellow and anti-terrorism specialist at Center for American Progress. "We're debating [a gun-safety issue] where the Congress is right now."

The issue surfaced after the most recent mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, June 14 when Omar Mateen armed himself with weapons including a combat-grade assault rifle and opened fire inside Pulse, a gay nightclub, killing 49 people. During an ensuing hostage situation, Mateen told police he supported the Islamic State group and other violent jihadist organizations.

Though investigators later determined Mateen's links to terrorism weren't particularly strong -- he'd visited jihadist websites but had no outside support from the Islamic State group or other terrorist organizations -- he had been placed on a no-fly watch list. He was later removed from the list, but officials pointed to a legal loophole that would have allowed him to buy a gun even if he had remained on the list.

In the wake of the shooting, frustrated gun-safety Democrats on Capitol Hill tried to close that loophole, introducing various bills. But Republicans defeated them in the Senate, weaker GOP counter-proposals went nowhere and House Speaker Paul Ryan refused to consider any legislation in the House.

That spurred Lewis -- a civil-rights legend who marched with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. during the infamous 1965 "Bloody Sunday" civil rights march in Selma, Alabama -- to lead an overnight occupation of the House floor. Joined by dozens of other Democrats, Lewis demanded Ryan bring no-fly, no-buy gun legislation and a bill enhancing background checks to the floor for a vote.

"We have lost hundreds and thousands of innocent people to gun violence," Lewis said in a speech before the sit-in began. "Tiny little children, babies, students and teachers, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, daughters and sons, friends and neighbors. And what has this body done? Mr. Speaker, not one thing."

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That same day, however, the American Civil Liberties union issued a statement saying it opposed any "no-fly, no-buy" legislation. Specifically, the ACLU, which has represented plaintiffs who have sued over the law, argues the watch lists try to anticipate criminal behavior, are often wrong, and strips people of their Constitutional right to due process.

The government "is making predictive judgments that people like our clients - who have never been charged let alone convicted of a crime - might nevertheless pose a threat" and can't object because the reasons they've been flagged are secret, Hina Shamsi, director of the organization's national security project, wrote in a highly-publicized essay. "That's a perilous thing for it to do."

The Brennan Center's Patel says there are actually several federal watch lists, but two are the most prominent: The Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment, or TIDE, which identifies general threats to national security, and the TSA No-Fly List, which bans people on it from boarding jetliners. Both were created not long after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The TIDE list "is the big list -- that has 1.5 million names on it," she says. "The criteria are fairly flexible, so it is very much up to the [White House] and to national security officials to put people on those lists" for alleged links to terrorist groups or activities.

By contrast, the No-Fly list "has 65,000 people on it," she says. "That list has its own set of criteria. It's narrower. But in both of those lists it's important to say you're [largely] not talking about Americans." Just 15,000 U.S. residents are on on them; the rest, she says, live in other countries.

Patel says she's for stronger gun safety measures, pointing to beefed-up background checks and a renewal of the ban on purchasing assault weapons, which expired in 2004, as more effective measures.

"I think the [legislative] strategy here is, [lawmakers] want to break through the wall of having no gun measures" in the wake of another seemingly preventable mass murder and apparent GOP intransigence, she says. "But I think there are actually more effective measures that aren't happening. We had an assault rifle ban for many, many years."

Ultimately, "at the end of the day, all of these proposals are going to reduce gun violence. Nothing's going to stop it, as long as we have guns," she says.

Gude understands the argument for protecting civil liberties -- "I come from a civil-liberties background," he says -- but insists it's "a balancing act" with the need to protect people. He argues that problems with the watch lists have been corrected, and the system "is improving both in its efficiency and in its efficacy."

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"A lot of the debate we've seen around this issue has not really caught up with the reality that the watch list system has gotten much much better," he says.

Still, "if we're concerned about an individual going into a gun store and purchasing a weapon, there are two bad outcomes that are on either side of the debate," Gude says. "One bad outcome is someone who is improperly on the terrorist watch list who is prevented from buying a weapon. That is an outcome we can fix."

The other bad outcome, he says, would be if someone who should be on the watch list but isn't, and "is able to purchase a weapon" and kill someone.

"Once he leaves that gun store," Gude says, "we don't' know what would happen. And we can't fix that."

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How Terrorism Is a Red Herring When it Comes to Gun Control

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Democrat members of Congress, including Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., center, and Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn. participate in sit-down protest seeking a a vote on gun control measures Wednesday on the floor of the House.

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Definition: Believing that past experiments and thoughts are more believable then what is said today. Or using Ancient Wisdom to support your thoughts and or beliefs. A popular one today is the Flat Earth Theory
Connection: The article below explains why people use Ancient wisdom as an excuse and how this tactic is very wrong. It states that you use Ancient Wisdom when you don’t have proper Scientific evidence. Examples with this flat earth theory, they say that there is no real scientific evidence to support their theory, so they go back to the original flat earth theory that has been stated by many Greek Philosophers as proof.

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If a remedy for your problem has been around for a long time, will it work, or is that a red flag?

How to recognise this tactic

People who use this tactic try to persuade you that a certain explanation, treatment or model must be correct because it's been around for a long time.

I don't go in for ancient wisdom
I don't believe just 'cos ideas are tenacious it means they are worthy

Tim Minchin, Australian-British comedian/musician, 2009

Why do people use this tactic?

People turn to this tactic when they lack scientific evidence to support their models. They want tor persuade you that because the traditional view has persisted for a long time, it outweighs the scientific evidence. But unfortunately, these models usually persist for reasons that have little to do with their success in explaining the real world.

What's wrong with this tactic

Believe it or not, there is no reason why an idea that's been around for a long time should be correct. Many ancient models have been kept alive by anecdotal evidence, appeals to authority, wishful thinking, superstitions and other dubious strategies. They are not supported by the sort of real-world evidence that comes from controlled experiments or randomized controlled trials. The four humor theory, discussed in the Example below, illustrates how an erroneous ancient model succumbed to scientific investigation.

What to do when confronted by this tactic

Don't be tempted to believe that the longevity of a model justifies its acceptance. It might help to keep in mind that blood-letting (based on the four humors model) was an accepted practice for centuries before modern medicine showed how harmful it is. Always ask for evidence that's been gathered from real-world tests. If there's none, the model is worthless. You can also check whether there are any systematic reviews of the model - try the Cochrane Collaboration for medical issues.

It's a good idea to ask about a mechanism for the model. If there is none, or if the mechanism proposed refers to concepts and processes that are at odds with accepted science, the model is almost certainly worthless.

Variations and related tactics

This tactic is also known as the appeal to antiquity. It is sometimes regarded as a type of appeal to authority. I prefer to think of it as more an appeal to anecdotal evidence - people think that centuries of anecdotes pile up to provide evidence. But, as the old maxim says: the plural of anecdote is not data.

Examples

The 2nd century 'four humor' model of human temperaments promoted by Galen led to the practices of blood-letting and trepanation as treatments for disease. These practices were continued until the 19th century when the rise of scientific models in medicine showed that, far from being beneficial, they were actually harmful. Discoveries in anatomy and physiology had shown the the mechanism behind the four humor theory had no basis.

Traditional Chinese Medicine is based largely on the appeal to ancient wisdom. Here's an excellent post from Steven Novella at Science-Based Medicine describing its pitfalls and showing how its purported mechanisms are completely divorced from reality.

Climate deniers use a form of this tactic when they point out that the earth's climate has changed in the past and then claim that the present episode of change is nothing unusual. Ian Plimer implies this argument in the first two of the "101 questions" he proposed in his 2011 book How to get expelled from school: a guide to climate change for pupils, parents and punters. The evidence shows clearly that his argument is wrong, and that recent global warming and climate change definitely is unusual and furthermore it is caused by emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. The mechanism is well understood. The Australian Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency has issued a detailed reply to all of Plimer's questions.

The New Age notion that Mayan calendars predict the end of the world on 12 December 2012 depends on an appeal to ancient wisdom. People who fall for this idea assume that the Mayans had knowledge we don't and were able to predict the future. In fact, no such prediction was made, and if one had been, it would deserve no credibility. Various mechanisms have been suggested as causes of the apocalypse, but they too lack credibility.

Add to the list of examples by leaving a comment.

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Appeals to ancient wisdom - trusting traditional trickery

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If a remedy for your problem has been around for a long time, will it work, or is that a red flag? How to recognise this tactic People who use this tactic try to persuade you that a certain explana...

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POST 7: Reasons for Belief (1) Patternicity

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POST 7: Reasons for Belief (1) Patternicity

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Definition: Finding something in nonsense, that usually has no meaning and correlation whatsoever. Coincidences that have no correlation to the picture whatsoever.
Connection: The picture is just a picture of a boy sitting in the field with houses in the background. But the way everything is set up it looks like there is a face

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POST 8: Reason for Belief (2) Perception and Observation

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POST 8: Reason for Belief (2) Perception and Observation

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Definition: Everybody perceives everything different, same with observation. We use our Observations to build memories that are sometimes false
Connection: This image is based off of perception and how everybody views things differently. Just because you perceive it one way, doesn’t mean that there isn’t a second viewpoint. Both can be correct in any case.

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POST 9: Reason for Belief (3) Emotional Connection

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POST 9: Reason for Belief (3) Emotional Connection

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Definition: Our emotion gets the best of us all the time. However, it sometimes makes the line between right and wrong very fuzzy.
Connection: Our minds can get cloudy from giving proper thoughts due to emotion and sometimes this causes us to make the wrong decisions, or stop us from believing scientific facts.

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POST 10: CRITICAL THINKING QUESTION RESPONSES

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POST 10: CRITICAL THINKING QUESTION RESPONSES