Our First Week: Finished!

Today we, Anthony and Darien, are going to post to our blog about a fun thing we did last week. Last Friday we watched a movie called Erin Brockovich, which is based on a true story. For many of us, it was our first time seeing this movie. We watched it because it is about a legal case that is similar to what we will be doing in our mock trial. In our case there is a company named Badger Aeromechanical Corp. that is dumping chemicals irresponsibly, similar to PG&E in the movie. In our case, these chemicals are affecting the ground water near the factory. It is belived that those chemicals are causing health issues in the immediate community near the plant. Our case presents an ethical obligation because Badger Aeromechanical Corp. makes windmill turbines that will be used in third-world countries. Although they are helping other countries, they are not disposing of chemicals properly here in the U.S. Our entire team is split into two sides, Plaintiff and Defendant. It will be our jobs to play the roles of certain characters in our fictional case.

The entire team learned interesting new things from watching this movie. I, Darien, didn't know that these cases could involve so many people, both plaintiff and defendant. I will be on the defendant side, playing the role of a witness, and I look forward to being a part of this project.

I, Anthony, didn't know that things like this even happened. I never knew that companies could be so irresponsible when it comes to their own back yard. I also will be playing the role of a witness, but for the plaintiff side. I'm glad I am on this side, because I am angry that a company would do this to the people that live there.

This movie really made us and the team aware of our sitution in Philadelphia. What would the consequences be if a local manufacuter were to do this here, in OUR community? Our population is much larger than the community in the movie, and the effects would devastating. It makes you wonder what is in our water, right here at home.

We look forward to posting more in the next few weeks.

Anthony and Darien