As San Luis Obispo High School students must struggle through the end of the ninth week of the trimester, students in Ivan Simon’s AP Literature class have the extra burden of powering their way through John Steinbeck’s “Grapes of Wrath.”

  The novel focuses on many themes surrounding a changing country, but the theme of the effects of large corporations and conglomerates on the country go far beyond the novel itself.

Expressions discussed these world issues with juniors and SLO Young Democrat members Vivian Swenson-Ruiz and Hayden Ventrella.

  “I’m very passionate about holding big corporations accountable for the level of pollution we have on earth,” said Swenson-Ruiz.

  Only 29 of the Forbes 100 most sustainable companies list are headquartered in North America. While companies are starting to take responsibility, individuals and consumers must also be aware of their carbon footprint.

“Corporations, especially those that burn fossil fuels, contribute the most to growing problems with climate change. I’m a big believer in holding them accountable for what they’ve caused and pushing them to improve their sustainability, but society also needs to be held accountable,” said Ventrella.

  People are individually affected by these companies’ waste as well. Pollution can cause long-term health effects including lung disease, heart disease, and other respiratory problems.

  “Of course individuals do have an impact, but it’s nowhere near the level of pollution these corporations release,” said Swenson-Ruiz

  Everyday, activist groups are taking action to hold these companies accountable for what they do to humans everywhere. While individual action against climate change is important, societies and larger companies need to make changes more than anyone else.

Source: Forbes.com